The vascular endothelium plays a role in insulin action

The endocrine system relies on the vasculature for delivery of hormones throughout the body, and the capillary microvasculature is the site where the hormones cross from the blood into the target tissue. Once considered an inert wall, various studies have now highlighted the functions of the capillary endothelium to regulate transport and therefore affect or maintain the interstitial environment. The role of the capillary may be clear in areas where there is a continuous endothelium, yet there also appears to be a role of endothelial cells in tissues with a sinusoidal structure. Here we focused on the most common endocrine disorder, diabetes, and several of the target organs associated with the disease, including skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas. However, it is important to note that the ability of hormones to cross the endothelium to reach their target tissue is a component of all endocrine functions. It is also a consideration in organs throughout the body and may have greater impact for larger hormones with target tissues containing a continuous endothelium. We noted that the blood levels do not always equal interstitial levels, which is what the cells are exposed to, and discussed how this may change in diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance. The capillary endothelium is, therefore, an essential and understudied aspect of endocrinology and metabolism that can be altered in disease, which may be an appropriate target for treatment.     

Prevalence of vitamin D depletion among morbidly obese patients seeking gastric bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in calcium and vitamin D metabolism have been reported after bariatric surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate vitamin D nutritional status among morbidly obese patients before gastric bypass surgery. METHODS: We prospectively studied 279 morbidly obese patients seeking gastric bypass surgery for vitamin D nutritional status as assessed by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. In addition, serum samples were analyzed for calcium, alkaline phosphatase (AP), intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 43 +/- 9 years; 87% of the study patients were women, and 72% were white. Serum calcium and AP levels were normal in 88% and 89% of the patients, respectively. Vitamin D depletion, defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level 相似文献   

Bone and joint alterations in acromegaly

Growth hormone (GH) is fundamental for the maintenance of bone mass and metabolism both during childhood and in adulthood. This effect is due to a complex interaction between circulating GH and IGF-I produced peripherally. In vitro data and experimental animal models have clarified many of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the characteristic skeletal changes occurring in acromegaly. This review focuses on the effects of GH excess on bone metabolism and mass in acromegalic patients and, in particular, on the influence of factors such as hypogonadism, gender, age and therapy on bone metabolism and arthropathy.     

早期联用MEP和大剂量rhGH对严重烫伤大鼠肠源性感染的影响

目的探讨早期联用美罗培南(MEP)和大剂量重组人生长激素(rhGH)对严重烫伤免疫抑制大鼠肠源性感染的影响。方法Wistar大鼠54只随机分为对照组、烧伤组和治疗组(C1组、C2组、C3组),后两大组制成25%总体表面积(TBSA)Ⅲ°烫伤免疫抑制模型,伤后2h给予rhGH1.33IU/kg、MEP20mg/kg,伤后8、24h检测门静脉血清内毒素(LPS)、腔静脉血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量,肝功能变化和肠道细菌移位率。结果C3(MEP+rhGH治疗)组LPS和TNF-α含量均显著低于其他组(P<0.01),与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),C3组未发现肠道细菌移位且肝功能检测指标显著低于其他组(P<0.01),与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论早期联用MEP和rhGH治疗严重烫伤免疫抑制大鼠能显著减轻或防止肠道细菌/内毒素移位,减少炎症介质释放,保护脏器功能。     

高转换型肾性骨病中骨保护素及其配体的表达和形态计量学观察

目的 观察高转换型肾性骨病中骨保护素及其配体 (OPG，RANKL)的表达，并与骨形态计量学指标进行相关分析。 方法 选择10例慢性肾衰尿毒症患者和3例正常人进行髂骨活检术，获得骨组织标本。采用免疫组化方法检测OPG和RANKL蛋白质的表达。采用全自动图像分析系统进行骨组织形态计量学测定。结果 10例慢性肾衰尿毒症患者经骨病理学检查证实均为高转换型骨病，以破骨细胞活化形成骨吸收陷窝伴或不伴骨矿化不全为特点。免疫组化显示尿毒症患者骨组织中以RANKL阳性表达为主。与正常对照相比，RANKL阳性表达细胞数目显著增加，OPG阳性表达细胞数目显著减少。尿毒症患者RANKL的阳性表达细胞数目与骨吸收面积和破骨细胞数目呈显著正相关。结论 高转换型肾性骨病中，PTH的溶骨作用可能是通过OPG/RANKL/RANK系统介导的。     

胰腺无功能性内分泌肿瘤的螺旋CT诊断与鉴别诊断

目的:分析胰腺无功能性内分泌肿瘤螺旋CT多期扫描的表现,提高CT对无功能性胰腺内分泌肿瘤诊断的正确性。材料和方法:回顾性分析25例经穿刺及手术病理证实的胰腺无功能性内分泌肿瘤的薄层螺旋CT多期扫描资料。螺旋CT采用常规平扫和薄层三期动态增强扫描即动脉期、门脉期和延迟期,三期扫描延迟时间分别为25s,70s和120s。结果:25例患者共检出26个病灶,位于胰头部10个病灶,胰颈部5个病灶,胰体部3个病灶,体尾部4个病灶,胰尾部4个病灶,其中1例同时有两个病灶分别位于胰头和体尾部。肿瘤平均大小为4.0cm。14个病灶呈等密度;12个病灶呈略低密度,密度不均匀,其中可见更低密度灶;其中5个病灶内可见钙化。增强扫描动脉期共18个病灶明显强化,其中6个病灶均匀强化,12个病灶不均匀强化,6病灶呈中等程度强化,2个病灶动脉期轻度强化。3例肿瘤位于胰头者,2例出现了胆道和胰管扩张,胰体尾部萎缩,另1例仅出现胰管轻度扩张,1例肿瘤位于体部者出现远端胰管扩张伴实质萎缩。25例患者8例出现多发肝富血供转移灶,其中1例患者同时出现肺和脊柱的多发转移,无胰周及后腹膜淋巴结转移;3例出现肿瘤邻近血管的侵犯,其余为邻近血管推移受压改变。结论:无功能性胰腺内分泌肿瘤多较大,富血供,常见钙化,较少出现周围血管及胰胆管直接侵犯,较少出现后腹膜淋巴结转移及神经丛侵犯,根据有无肝脏及其他脏器转移、淋巴结转移及周围血管侵犯,进一步提示肿瘤的良恶性。     

关于抑制素的回顾与展望

1923年,随着生殖腺反馈调节垂体功能的概念的提出,关于抑制素的研究开始了。抑制素是一种非类固醇类物质,能够抑制垂体细胞的活性。1932年,这种物质在水状的睾丸提取物中得到证实,并被命名为抑制素。又经过了50多年的研究,到1985年,抑制素才被纯化和克隆。而直到化验技术的进步使人和动物的循环浓度得以分析,抑制素的生理活性的揭示才得以完成。本文综述抑制素的历史、生理作用及其在辅助生殖技术中的最新的应用和研究。     

2型糖尿病患者绝经期骨密度与甲状旁腺素、雌激素相关性研究

目的 观察2型糖尿病妇女绝经期骨密度与甲状旁腺素、雌激素相关性研究.方法 测定绝经期2型糖尿病妇女伴骨质疏松（A）组及绝经期2型糖尿病妇女无骨质疏松（B）组的左侧髋部股骨颈、大转子、华氏三角区、及腰椎L2～L4正侧位的骨密度和血清中骨代谢指标,如：骨钙素、碱性磷酸酶、钙、磷、甲状旁腺素、雌二醇、Ⅰ型胶原羧基末端终肽（β-CTx）的浓度,对骨密度与多个变量之间的关系进行相关分析,并对（A）组血清中的甲状旁腺素、雌二醇、骨钙素、β-CTx与不同部位的骨密度之间的关系进行多元逐步回归分析.结果绝经期2型糖尿病妇女（B）组的腰椎、大转子、华氏三角区、股骨颈等骨密度指标明显低于对照组（A）（P＜0.05）;2型糖尿病绝经期妇女血清中雌二醇水平与腰椎L2～L4骨密度呈正相关（P＜0.032）;甲状旁腺素水平与股骨颈骨密度呈负相关（P＜0.034）.结论 绝经期2型糖尿病患者甲状旁腺素和雌激素水平与骨密度密切相关,分别可以用于预测骨质疏松发生的不同部位.     

Gonadotropins mediate DNA synthesis and protection from spontaneous cell death in human ovarian surface epithelium

Gonadotropins have been implicated in the development of epithelial ovarian cancers. These tumors are derived from ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of these hormones on DNA synthesis and spontaneous cell death in primary cultures of OSE and three immortalized OSE cultures. Primary cultures of OSE cells were generated from the ovaries of women with benign disease. The effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) on DNA synthesis and cell death were determined using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and JAM assays. Significant inductions of DNA synthesis were demonstrated with LH in 4/12 (33%) primary cultures of OSE and 2/3 OSE cell lines and with FSH in 4/11 (36%) primary cultures of OSE and 2/3 OSE cell lines. A significant protection from cell death was also observed in the presence of FSH in 2/4 primary cultures of OSE and 1/3 OSE cell lines and in the presence of LH in 1/4 primary cultures of OSE and 2/3 OSE cell lines. The results indicate that while gonadotropins have the potential to induce cell proliferation and protect from cell death in OSE cells in vitro, their effects are variable in OSE cells from different women.