Evaluation of serum galectin-3 concentrations in patients with hypothyroidism

Abstract

Aims: Hypothyroidism is the most commonly encountered hormone deficiency determined in all age groups. Serum galectin-3 concentrations that play important roles in cellular proliferation and adhesion were not studied before in hypothyroidism. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between serum galectin-3 concentrations and hypothyroidism.

Methods: A total of 83 individuals, 46 patients with hypothyroidism and 37 healthy controls, were included in the study. Among 46 patients with hypothyroidism, anti-TPO concentrations were higher than the reference range in 22 of them while it was in reference range in remaining 24 patients. Routine laboratory data (glucose, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, TSH, fT4, fT3, anti-TPO, anti-Tg) and galectin-3 concentrations were compared between the groups. Galectin-3 concentrations were measured by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Galectin-3 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with hypothyroidism compared to the control group (2.89 (1.17–10.79); 1.95 (1.15–6.11) ng/mL, p?=?.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between galectin-3 concentrations and TSH, anti-Tg and triglyceride concentrations; while a negative correlation was present between fT4 and fT3 and galectin-3 concentrations (p?Conclusions: For the first time in the literature, we determined elevated serum galectin-3 concentrations in patients with hypothyroidism compared with healthy controls. We believe that increased galectin-3 concentrations may play a role in hyperplasia of thyroid gland that is important in pathogenesis of hypothyroidism and high concentrations of galectin-3 may be associated with hypertriglyceridemia seen in hypothyroidism.     

系统性硬皮病抗核抗体谱的检测意义

目的探讨抗核抗体（ANA）和抗核抗体谱（ANAs）对系统性硬皮病的诊断意义。方法分别采用间接免疫荧光法（IIF）和免疫印迹法（IB）对64例SSc患者和30例健康对照者血清中6种自身抗体进行测定。结果IIF检测ANA结果显示,SSc患者中ANA的阳性率为98．4％（63／64）,其荧光染色模型主要为均质核仁型;IB检测6种ENA结果显示,SSc患者以抗Scl-70抗体、抗SS-A抗体和抗nRNP抗体为主,阳性率分别为65．1％（41／64）,29．7％（19／64）和6．3％（4／64）。结论多种自身抗体同时检出,可能提示SSc患者同时伴随有其他的自身免疫性疾病,或者有发生其他自身免疫性疾病的危险;此外,IB法对ANAs检测的阳性率和特异性均较高,对SSc的诊断帮助很大。     

血清促甲状腺素水平对2型糖尿病合并亚临床甲减患者心血管疾病发生风险的影响

【目的】探讨血清促甲状腺素(TSH)水平对2型糖尿病(T2DM)合并亚临床甲减患者心血管疾病发生风险的影响。【方法】选取2014年1月至2017年1月在本院诊治的100例T2DM合并亚临床曱减的患者,根据入院时TSH水平分为TSH升高组(TSH>5.6 IU/m L,n=28)和TSH正常组(TSH≤5.6 IU/mL,n=72)。比较两组患者心血管疾病发病率,分析TSH水平与临床指标相关性,多元Logistic回归分析患者心血管事件发生的危险因素。【结果】TSH升高组游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT3)和游离甲状腺素(FT4)水平显著低于TSH正常组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);TSH升高组心血管事件发生率39.29%(11/28),高于TSH正常组的13.89%(10/72),其差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。TSH水平与入院时收缩压呈正相关(P<0.05),与FT3、FT4呈负相关(P<0.05)。多元L ogistic回归分析显示:血尿酸、收缩压、TSH、FT3、三醜甘油(TG)是心血管疾病发病的危险因素。【结论】血清TSH水平与T2DM合并亚临床甲减患者心血管疾病发病风险显著相关。     

Effect of dexamethasone on TSH secretion induced by TRH in human obesity.

BACKGROUND: The presence of an abnormally high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) makes it difficult to distinguish some euthyroid obese subjects from subelinically hypothyroid obese patients. Here, we examine whether such distinction may be achieved after treatment with glucocorticoids, which inhibit TSH secretion at the hypothalamic-pituitary level. METHODS: TRH tests (200 microg as an intravenous bolus injection) were performed in 30 age- and weight-matched, obese, but otherwise healthy, men. All subjects were tested again with TRH after treatment with dexamethasone (dex) (2 mg/d in four divided doses orally for 3 days). RESULTS: In all subjects, total thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations were in the normal range. According to basal and TRH-stimulated serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels, subjects were divided into the following three groups: group I (n=10), euthyroid subjects; group II (n=10), euthyroid subjects with normal basal but abnormally elevated TSH responses to TRH; group III (n=10), subjects with elevated basal and TRH-induced TSH levels (subclinical hypothyroidism). Basal TSH levels were 1.8+/-0.4 mU/L in group I, 1.7+/-0.3 in group II, and 6.0+/-0.7 in group III. In both groups II and III, TRH-induced TSH increments were above the normal range (maximal increment> 15 mU/L) and were significantly higher than in group I. After the second treatment with TRH, pretreatment with dex significantly decreased both basal TSH levels and peak TSH responses to TRH in all groups. However, a striking percentage decrease (>50%) in TRH-induced peak TSH responses was observed in euthyroid obese subjects of groups I and II, whereas hypothyroid subjects of group III showed only a slight decrement (<25%). CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of the TSH secretory system to glucocorticoid inhibitory action is preserved in obese subjects with abnormally elevated TSH response to TRH, but not in subclinically hypothyroid obese patients. The TRH plus dex test might be useful in future studies to understand the mechanisms underlying alterations in TSH secretion in obesity.     

Antioxidant status in thyroid dysfunction.

Our study was designed to test and compare the levels of enzymatic antioxidants (ARS), endogenous peroxides (POX), non-enzymatic antioxidants (Antiox-cap) and anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) antibody titers (oLAb) in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients. We measured POX, ARS, Antiox-cap and oLAb in the plasma from 68 patients (34 patients with hyperthyroidism, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) <0.04; and 34 patients with hypothyroidism, TSH >4.0) and 34 healthy euthyroid controls. POX were highest in hyperthyroid patients, but differences between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients and controls were not significant. ARS were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. Antiox-cap were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. oLAb were significantly higher in hypothyroid patients compared to controls and hyperthyroid patients. Our study shows that both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are associated with enhanced oxidative stress involving enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Higher POX in hyperthyroid patients might reflect the hypermetabolic state of these patients. oLAb, indicating progression of atherosclerosis, were highest in hypothyroid patients.     

Anti-PM/Scl-100 and anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies in scleroderma

BackgroundSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of various autoantibodies, including anti-centromere, anti-topoisomerase (Scl-70), anti-PM/Scl-100, and anti-RNA-polymerase III (RNA Pol-III) antibodies. Recently, new ELISA based immunoassays have become available for the detection of anti-PM/Scl and anti-RNA Pol-lII antibodies.ObjectiveWe studied the prevalence and clinical association of anti-PM/Scl-100 (PM1-Alpha) and anti-RNA Pol-III antibodies.MethodsAntibodies to PM1-Alpha and RNA Pol-III were measured by ELISA (DR. Fooke Laboratories and Inova Diagnostics, respectively) in 242 patients with various connective tissue diseases (CTD) (including 70 SSc patients) and in 36 non-CTD controls.ResultsLow levels of PM1-Alpha antibodies were found in various CTDs, whereas high levels were exclusively found in SSc, dermatomyositis and polymyositis, albeit at low frequency (4.7%). Anti-RNA Pol-III antibodies were found in 7% of SSc and in 1% of non-CTD and CTD controls. Anti-centromere and anti-Scl-70 antibodies were found in 37% and 21% of SSc patients, respectively. Anti-centromere antibodies were associated with limited cutaneous SSc and anti-Scl-70 antibodies with diffuse cutaneous SSc and interstitial lung disease. Because of the low number of samples positive for anti-PM/Scl-100 or RNA Pol-III antibodies, no clinical feature was statistically correlated with the presence of either reactivity, but taken together the presence of either antibody was correlated with interstitial lung disease. Anti-PM1-Alpha and anti-RNA Pol-III antibodies were mutually exclusive with anti-Scl-70 antibodies.ConclusionsAt high levels, anti-PM/Scl-100 antibodies were associated with SSc, PM, and DM, albeit at low frequency. Anti-RNA Pol-III antibodies were associated with SSc (in 7%) with high specificity.     

Clinical significance of a low concentration of thyrotropin: five immunometric "kit" assays compared

We compared results of five sensitive immunometric assays of serum thyrotropin (TSH) in controls and in different groups of patients with hyperthyroidism, untreated or treated; secondary hypothyroidism; nonthyroidal illness (NTI); or depression; or who were being treated with amiodarone. With most kits, measured TSH concentrations did not overlap between controls and hyperthyroid patients. In untreated secondary hypothyroidism TSH was not always undetectable. Patients with NTI and depression showed many low TSH values, and among these categories of patients, we observed large discrepancies among the kits. This lack of specificity at low concentration means that one cannot assess hyperthyroidism by TSH measurement alone, but it can be used as the first screening test. Similarly, TSH determination cannot be used alone in monitoring therapy (e.g., with carbimazole, thyroxin, amiodarone) to assess the presence of hyperthyroidism. Nonetheless, this assay plays a well-established role in hypothyroidism detection. Four of the five kits were found useful for clinical evaluation, the fifth less so.     

亚临床甲状腺功能减退对2型糖尿病患者血尿酸水平的影响

目的探讨亚临床甲状腺功能减退(SCH)对2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者血尿酸水平以及相关指标的影响。方法回顾性分析872例2型糖尿病患者病例资料,根据血促甲状腺激素(TSH)水平分为SCH组(102例)、甲状腺功能正常组(770例)。收集两组患者临床资料、甲状腺功能、血尿酸及其他生化指标。比较两组血尿酸的差异并分析血尿酸与其他指标的关系。结果 (1)与甲状腺功能正常组相比,SCH组病程、年龄、体质量指数(BMI)、尿酸(SUA)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPOAb)、甲状腺球蛋白抗体(TGAb)水平均升高,而空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(Hb A1c)、游离甲状腺素(FT4)水平降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。而游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT3)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。(2)Pearson相关性分析显示,TSH与血清尿酸(SUA)、病程、BMI、TG、TC、LDL-C、TPOAb、TGAb呈显著正相关,而与FPG、Hb A1c和FT4呈显著负相关。(3)在调整年龄、性别、病程、BMI、TG、TC、LDL-C、FBG、FT4和TSH等指标后,多元逐步线性回归提示,SUA与年龄、TG、FT4、TSH密切相关。结论 SCH是2型糖尿病患者高尿酸血症的独立危险因素。     

Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis status of humans during development of ageing process.

We have investigated hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid function in four groups of healthy elderly male humans. Group A (n=18, age range 20-45 years) served as healthy younger controls, group B (n=10, age range 50-60 years), group C (n=15, age range 60-70 years) and group D (n=16, age range 70-85 years) are the subjects of this study. Groups C and D showed significantly lower T3 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and higher T4 levels with respect to controls. Evidence for TSH circadian modulation was found in group A (control) and group B subjects. The TRH-stimulated TSH peak was reduced among all elderly subjects with respect to controls and appeared to be pronounced with the ageing process. The maximal prolactin response was also inhibited with increasing age. Our study suggest that a resetting of the pituitary threshold for the TSH feed-back suppression along with complex alterations in peripheral thyroid hormone concentrations may, in turn, develop in older people and that appeared to manifest prominently among the oldest population. Additionally, the TSH nocturnal response appeared to be impaired with increasing age indicating an alteration of hypothalamic function.     

Scl-86, a marker antigen for diffuse scleroderma.

More than 300 sera from patients with a connective tissue disease were analyzed with the immunoblotting technique. The presence of autoantibodies against an 86,000-mol wt marker antigen for diffuse scleroderma (Scl-86) was found in 14 out of 33 patients with scleroderma. The presence of anti-Scl-86 antibodies seemed to correlate with the diagnosis of diffuse scleroderma since they were found in 13 out of 22 diffuse scleroderma patients and in only one out of 11 patients with limited scleroderma. All scleroderma sera (33 patients' sera and 13 reference sera) were also tested for the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies. It was found that all anti-Scl-70 positive sera (n = 25) contained anti-Scl-86 antibody as well, suggesting a relationship between these two antigens. However, the Scl-86 antigen was shown to be an extremely insoluble nonchromosomal protein, resistant to boiling in sodium dodecyl sulfate. This contrasts with the Scl-70 antigen, which has been described as a thermolabile, soluble antigen present in the chromatin fraction. Together, our results are consistent with the idea that Scl-70 is a degradation product of Scl-86. The Scl-86 antigen is present in freshly prepared rabbit thymus, spleen, and liver nuclei as well as in nuclei from various cultured cell lines, but is not detectable in extractable nuclear antigen from rabbit thymus. In a limited retrospective study, the anti-Scl-86 antibodies were found in two sera from patients with Raynaud's phenomenon before the development of diffuse scleroderma. Therefore, it is possible that screening of patients' serum for this antibody might predict the development of diffuse scleroderma.     

小剂量丙基硫氧嘧啶联合普萘洛尔治疗亚临床甲亢合并阵发性房颤临床疗效观察

目的探讨小剂量丙基硫氧嘧啶联合普萘洛尔治疗亚临床甲亢合并阵发性房颤的临床疗效。方法 56例亚临床甲亢合并阵发性房颤患者,随机分为:丙基硫氧嘧啶联合普萘洛尔组(A组),31例,给予丙基硫氧嘧啶50 mg/d,口服,同时给予普萘洛尔10 mg/d,口服;安慰剂组(B组)25例,给予等量的安慰剂治疗。观察患者治疗前后FT3、FT4、TSH、心功能、TGAb阳性率、TPOAb阳性率变化情况。结果 A组治疗后FT4较治疗前明显下降(P<0.01),TSH较治疗前显著升高(P<0.01)。2组治疗后,TGAb、TPOAb阳性率前后均无显著差异。A组治疗后平均心率显著下降(P<0.05)。结论小剂量丙基硫氧嘧啶联合普萘洛尔对于亚临床甲亢合并阵发性房颤,可协同改善血清TSH水平,降低甲减现象,改善心脏功能,有效缓解房颤的发生。     

妊娠期甲状腺减退患者妊娠期间左旋甲状腺素钠替代剂量探讨

目的 探讨妊娠甲状腺功能减退症(甲减)妊娠期间左旋甲状腺素钠替代剂量。方法 2014年3月至 2015年3月入选在我院分娩的274例妊娠合并甲减孕妇,其中亚临床型甲减组(SHT)207例,临床型甲减组(HT)67 例,以妊娠早期促甲状腺激素(TSH)<2.5mU/L,妊娠中晚期TSH<3.0mU/L为治疗目标,根据TSH 及孕周变化 予调整左旋甲状腺素钠治疗剂量。并根据TSH 水平分为TSH1 组,TSH3~5mU/L,TSH2 组,TSH5~8mU/L, TSH3 组,TSH8~10mU/L,TSH4 组,TSH10~15mU/L,TSH5 组,TSH15~20 mU/L 和TSH6 组,TSH>20 mU/L。结果 各组达治疗目标后,SHT 组T1、T2 和T3 期,左旋甲状腺素钠剂量分别为:(52.26±19.43)μg、 (56.69±20.58)μg和(56.76±19.99)μg;HT组在T1、T2 和T3 期,左旋甲状腺素钠剂量分别为:(64.58±50.26) μg、(66.67±47.64)μg和(65.91±34.06)μg;TSH1 组-TSH6 组左旋甲状腺素钠剂量分别为(45.65±16.08)μg、 (72.32±14.85)μg、(75.00±13.06)μg、(112.5±53.03)μg、(137.5±23.18)μg和(150.00±23.13)μg;T1、T2 和 T3 妊娠期TSH2、TSH3、TSH4 和TSH5 组左旋甲状腺素钠剂量高于TSH1 组(P <0.05);TSH4、TSH5 和TSH6 组 左旋甲状腺素钠片剂量高于TSH2 组(P <0.05);TSH4、TSH5 和TSH6 组高于TSH3 组(P <0.05);TSH5 和 TSH6 组高于TSH4 组(P <0.05);TSH6 组高于TSH5 组(P <0.05)。结论 妊娠期临床型甲减左旋甲状腺素钠 剂量在T1、T2 和T3 妊娠期均高于亚临床型甲减(P <0.05)。随着TSH 水平增高,所需左旋甲状腺素钠明显增加 (P <0.05)。     

系统性硬皮病抗核抗体谱的检测分析

目的 通过对系统性硬皮病（SSc）患者抗核抗体谱（ANAs）检测结果的分析,探讨这些抗核抗体（ANA）对系统性硬皮病的诊断价值。方法 分别采用间接免疫荧光法（IIF）和免疫印迹法（IB）对62例SSc患者和20例健康对照者血清中15种抗核抗体进行测定。结果 IIF检测ANA结果显示,SSc患者中ANA的阳性率为98.4%（61/62）,其荧光染色模型主要为均质核仁型;IB检测15种ANA结果显示,SSc患者中的ANA以抗Scl-70抗体、抗SS-A抗体和抗Ro-52抗体为主,在46例弥漫性硬皮病（dSSc）患者中抗Scl-70抗体的阳性率高达67%,特异性为100%。结论 多种自身抗体同时检出,可能提示SSc患者同时伴随有其他的自身免疫性疾病,或者有发生其他自身免疫性疾病的危险;此外,欧蒙免疫印迹试剂盒,对ANAs检测的阳性率和特异性均较高,对SSc的诊断帮助很大。     

血清甲状腺球蛋白抗体、甲状腺微粒体抗体、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体对自身免疫性甲状腺疾病的诊断价值

目的探讨血清甲状腺球蛋白抗体（TGAb）、甲状腺微粒体抗体（TMAb）、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPOAb）对自身免疫性甲状腺疾病（AITD）的诊断价值。方法100例甲状腺功能异常患者根据血清中三碘甲状腺原氨酸（B）、甲状腺素（Td）、促甲状腺激素（TSH）水平分为甲亢组和甲减组,每组50例;另选择50例甲状腺功能正常人群作为对照组。各组患者均采集静脉血5mL,分离血清,放射免疫法测定患者血清中TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb、L、T4、TSH水平。观察各组患者血清中TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb阳性率;比较各组TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb阳性患者血清水平。结果甲亢组和甲减组血清TPOAb阳性率均明显高于血清TGAb、TMAb阳性率;甲亢组、甲减组患者血清TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb阳性率均明显高于对照组;甲减组患者血清TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb阳性率均明显高于甲亢组。甲亢组和甲减组患者血清TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb水平均明显高于对照组。甲减组患者血清中TGAb、TMAb、TPOAb水平均明显高于甲亢组。结论TPOAb在AITD的诊断中具有重要意义,为AITD的诊断、治疗及预后评估提供了重要依据。     

Classification of hypothyroidism in evaluating patients after radioiodine therapy by serum cholesterol, T3-uptake. Total T4, FT4-index, total T3, basal TSH and TRH-test

Abstract. During a follow-up examination of patients after radioiodine therapy for thyrotoxicosis, 128 patients without recurrent hyperthyroidism were investigated for the clarification of different degrees of hypothyroidism. The clinical diagnosis and the conventional tests for circulating thyroid hormones were compared to the estimation of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and to the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test, which was performed with 500 μg synthetic TRH I.V., and referred to age and sex specific normal ranges. Moreover, serum triiodothyronine (T₃) was estimated by radioimmunoassay. Results: 1. A gradual classification of biochemical group-differences gave more significant discrimination than a division into groups based on clinical impression. Different grades of severity of hypothyroidism could be demonstrated by highly significant differences of free thyroxine index (FT₄-Index) between the 1st group of patients with low FT₄-Index and a 2nd group with raised basal TSH (and normal FT₄-Index), between the 2nd group and a 3rd group with an elevated value of Δ TSH_max (and normal FT₄-Index and basal TSH), and between the 3rd group and a 4th group of biochemically normal reacting patients and controls. There was a less significant difference with very considerable overlap between clinically established groups. 2. T₃-uptake, total T₄ and FT₄-Index are not sufficient for detecting hypothyroidism in individual patients, although their group-differences are significant in biochemical classification. 3. Neither between clinical nor between biochemical groups was there any significant correlation with serum cholesterol. 4. Triiodothyronine can be normal or elevated in a situation with low T₄ and raised TSH concentrations. Conclusions: Evidence could be given that hypothyroidism is a graded phenomenon. Its classification by biochemical data is more reasonable than a clinical division. Advancing severity of hypothyroidism after radiation therapy is compensated during a certain period by supplementary production of triiodothyronine. As thyroid hormone concentration in patients with pathological serum TSH or TRH-test is significantly lower than in euthyroid patients or in controls, replacement therapy in early stages of hypothyroidism also seems reasonable.     

The nocturnal serum thyrotropin surge is inhibited in patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary function have been described in patients with incidentally discovered adrenal adenomas and have been attributed to their subtle hypercortisolemic status. METHODS: To establish whether the central control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is altered in these endocrine conditions, the nocturnal (10:30 PM-2:00 AM) serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) surge (measured by dividing the difference between nighttime and morning TSH values by the morning TSH value and then multiplying by 100), the TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (200 microg as an intravenous bolus) and serum free thyroid hormone levels were evaluated in patients with adrenal incidentaloma (experimental group) and in normal controls (control group). Urinary free cortisol concentrations were also measured. RESULTS: The nocturnal TSH surge was observed in the normal controls, whereas it was inhibited in the patients of the experimental group. Serum free triiodothyronine levels were similar in the two groups, whereas the TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone was significantly lower in the experimental than in the control group. Urinary free cortisol levels were significantly higher in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that even conditions of slight glucocorticoid excess may exert inhibitory effects on TSH secretion, which suggests the presence of a slight central hypothyroidism in patients with adrenal incidentaloma.     

Color Doppler sonography in hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND: The value of color Doppler sonography in thyroid disease continues to be a matter of debate. Over the past few years, several studies have proved unable to yield unequivocal results. Only a few studies concerning color Doppler sonography in patients with hypothyroidism have been published. METHODS: 89 patients with hypothyroidism have been evaluated. They were examined clinically; laboratory tests on thyroid function and color Doppler sonography have been performed. The color flow distribution and intensity were estimated and the fastest flow velocity (PSV) detectable with a pw-doppler was registered. The color pattern was graded from 0 to III as has been described by others and the color Doppler findings were then correlated to both the clinical picture and the laboratory results. RESULTS: 56 of the 89 hypothyroid patients showed pattern 0 with a PSV of 22 cm/s. In 33 patients different degrees of increased parenchymal color could be found with a concordant PSV: 16 patients showed pattern I with a PSV of 39 cm/s; 11 showed pattern II with PSV 58 cm/s, and 6 showed pattern III with PSV 63 cm/s. Regarding the corresponding clinical and laboratory variables, there was a very close correlation between color intensity and anti-Tg/anti-TPO antibody levels: pattern 0: anti-Tg 474 IU/ml, anti-TPO-Ab 810 IU/ml; pattern I: 1053/1733; pattern II: 1774/2432; pattern III: 1951/2633. Some correlation could also be found for the TSH values and the calculated volume of the thyroid gland, whereas the duration of hypothyroidism showed an inverse correlation to color intensity. (Pattern 0: TSH 3.1 mE/ml, volume 9.2 ml, duration 43 months; pattern I: 4.2 mE/l, 15.7 ml, 24 mos.; pattern II: 11.5 mE/l, 22.3 ml, 16 mos.; pattern III: 38.2 mE/l, 34.3 ml, 10 mos, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The color Doppler pattern of intense hypervascularization of the thyroid gland formerly attributed only to the hyperthyroid state of active Graves' Disease can also be seen in hypothyroidism. Our data support the concept that the color flow appearance is not the result of stimulated thyroid hormone production, but a measure of the activity of an autoimmune process.     

Elevated exhalation of hydrogen peroxide in patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis is accompanied by an influx of activated phagocytes into distal airways. These cells release H2O2, which may evaporate from the airways surface and be detected in expired breath condensate. We tested whether patients with systemic sclerosis exhale more H2O2 than healthy subjects and whether breath condensate H2O2 levels correlate with some clinical parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: H2O2 was measured fluorimetrically in the expired breath condensate of 27 patients (22 women, five men, mean age 49 +/- 13.1 years) with systemic sclerosis and 27 age- and sex- matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Exhaled H2O2 levels were 3.5-fold higher (0.88 +/- 0.62 microM vs. 0.25 +/- 0.17 microM, P < 0.001) in the patients with systemic sclerosis than in the controls. Treatment with cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone (29 +/- 50 months, range 3-168 months) did not significantly decrease H2O2 exhalation (0.78 +/- 0.50 microM, n= 10 vs. 0.94 +/- 0.67 microM, n= 17, P > 0.05). No significant difference was found between patients with limited and diffuse scleroderma (1.03 +/- 0.69 microM, n= 17 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.41 microM, n= 10, P > 0.05). H2O2 levels correlated with disease duration (r = 0.38, P < 0.05) and time from the first Raynaud's episode (r = 0.44, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with systemic sclerosis exhale more H2O2 than healthy controls, suggesting involvement of reactive oxygen species in disease processes. Lack of significant intergroups differences in H2O2 levels may have resulted from the small number of patients analyzed.     

红细胞能量成像技术定量评估甲状腺功能的应用价值

目的探讨红细胞能量成像（CFA）技术定量评估甲状腺弥漫性病变患者甲状腺功能的应用价值。 方法选取2016年10月至2017年6月哈尔滨医科大学附属第一医院就诊的甲状腺弥漫性病变患者100例。其中甲状腺功能正常者36例（甲弥甲功正常组）,甲状腺功能异常者64例,包括甲状腺功能亢进者30例（甲弥甲亢组）,甲状腺功能减低者34例（甲弥甲减组）。另选择同期该院体检的健康志愿者30名（健康对照组）。所有受试者均采用CFA技术测定甲状腺实质感兴趣区内的血流参数：血管指数（VI）与Vascularity。采用单因素方差分析比较4组受检者VI、Vascularity差异,进一步组间两两比较采用SNK-q检验。以临床诊断作为金标准,绘制VI鉴别诊断甲状腺弥漫性病变患者甲状腺功能亢进与减低、异常与正常的受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线。采用Pearson分析法分析甲弥甲亢组、甲弥甲减组VI与甲状腺功能的相关性。 结果VI、Vascularity均为甲弥甲亢组>甲弥甲减组>甲弥甲功正常组>健康对照组,且任意两组间比较差异均有统计学意义（VI：健康对照组与甲弥甲亢组、甲弥甲减组、甲弥甲功正常组比较,q=13.67、7.00、3.93,P均<0.01;甲弥甲功正常组与甲弥甲亢组、甲弥甲减组比较,q=10.35、P<0.01,q=3.27、P<0.05;甲弥甲减组与甲弥甲亢组比较,q=7.09,P<0.01;Vascularity：健康对照组与甲弥甲亢组、甲弥甲减组、甲弥正常组比较,q=15.23、10.16、6.58,P均<0.01;甲弥甲功正常组与甲弥甲亢组、甲弥甲减组比较,q=9.33、3.83,P均<0.01;甲弥甲亢组与甲弥甲减组比较,q=5.55,P<0.01）。ROC曲线显示,VI鉴别诊断甲状腺弥漫性病变患者甲状腺功能亢进与减低的阈值为9.526%,敏感度为70.0%,特异度为76.5%,曲线下面积为0.733。VI鉴别诊断甲状腺弥漫性病变患者甲状腺功能异常与正常的阈值为7.404%,敏感度为62.5%,特异度为88.9%,曲线下面积为0.768。Pearson相关分析结果显示,甲弥甲亢组患者VI与血清游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、游离甲状腺素（FT4）浓度呈正相关（r=0.584、0.499,P均<0.05）,与血清促甲状腺激素浓度呈负相关（r=-0.447,P<0.05）;甲弥甲减组患者VI与FT4浓度呈负相关（r=-0.342,P<0.05）,与FT3、TSH浓度无相关性（r=0.121、-0.007,P均>0.05）。 结论CFA技术能量化甲状腺实质内的血流信号,对甲状腺弥漫性病变患者甲状腺功能评估有一定的应用价值。