Role of the Pentanucleotide （tttta）n Polymorphisms of CYP11a Gene in the Pathogenesis of Hyperandrogenism in Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

To determine the (tttta)n repeat polymorphisms at the promoter region of CYP11a gene, and study its linkage to hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Chinese women, a case-control study was conducted in the Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, China). 96 PCOS patients and 78 healthy control women were included. CYP11a (tttta)n repeat-polymorphism genotyping analysis was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum pituitary hormone and total testosterone levels were measured by ELISA. 4 different CYP1 la (tttta)n allelles were identified, corresponding to 4-, 6-, 8-, and 9-repeat-unit alleles. The frequency and distribution of these alleles are 0. 16, 0.33, 0.38, and 0. 13 respectively in PCOS patients, as compared with 0. 20, 0. 34, 0. 35, and 0.11 respectively in healthy controls. There were no significant differences between these two groups. Moreover, no correlation between the polymorphism of CYP11a gene and serum testosterone level of patients with PCOS and controls was observed. It is concluded that microsatellite polymorphism (tttta)n of gene CYP11a exists in Chinese women and the polymorphism of CYP11a gene does not play an important role in the pathogenesis of Chinese patients with PCOS, especially in patients with hyperandrogenism.     

Decreased Gastric Body Mucosa Obestatin Expression in Abdominal Obesity Patients With Normal Body Mass Index

<正>The aim of the study was to investigate whether the expression of obestatin in gastric body mucosa in abdominal obesity patients with norma body mass index(BMI)is different compared with healthy controls.Twenty abdominal obesity patients with normal BMI and twenty healthy controls were included in the study.The number of     

Clinical significance of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in prostatic cancer

Objective To study the relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 ( IGF -1) levels and prostatic cancer. Methods The levels of IGF-I was measured with immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) in 37 cases of prostatic cancer,35 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and in 20 healthy subjects as controls. The serum IGF-I levels were compared to the clinical and pathological grading of the prostatic cancer. 8 cases of prostatic cancer after operation have been followed up. Results The mean levels of serum IGF-1 in prostatic cancer (325.6 ± 100.8 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in BPH(201.6± 53.8 ng/ml) and healthy subjects(179.0 ±57.2 ng/ml) (P< 0.01). Whereas there were no statistical difference between BPH and healthy subjects(P>0.05). Statistical difference was noted before(315.8±87.0 ng/ml) and after (224.8 ±88.4 ng/ ml) PCa operation(P< 0.01), but significant difference among the various stages of PCa has not been observed( P > 0.05).Conclusion The levels of serum IGF-I may be     

Changes in plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in aged myocardial infarction patients.

Plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen, tPA activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity were determined in 40 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the onset and 2-4 weeks after the onset of the disease. 24 healthy subjects served as controls. At the onset of AMI, mean plasma level of tPA antigen was significantly higher than that of control subjects (13.5 +/- 4.8 ng/ml vs 6.4 +/- 2.0 ng/ml), with the highest elevation in the group greater than 65 years of age. Mean plasma level of tPA activity was significantly lower than in the controls (1.1 +/- 0.4 IU/ml vs 1.6 +/- 0.4 IU/ml), especially in patients over 65 years of age. Mean plasma level of PAI activity was significantly higher than in the controls (17.5 +/- 12.0 AU/ml vs 9.0 +/- 4.6 AU/ml), especially in patients over 65 years of age. At 2-4 weeks, mean plasma levels of tPA and PAI activities of AMI patients had dropped to 1.5 +/- 0.6 IU/ml and 9.5 +/- 8.9 AU/ml, respectively, not significantly different from controls. The tPA antigen had come down to 11.0 +/- 5.4 ng/ml, but still higher than in the controls. The possible mechanism of these phenomena was discussed.

     

Evaluation of LDL subfractions in vascular complications of familial hypercholesterolemia.

The authors attempted to investigate the possibility of estimating modified LDL (acetylated LDL, oxidative LDL and glucosylated LDL) with peroxidized lipid in the native LDL from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). A group of 7 patients with FH were studied, with age ranging from 18 to 60 years. 10 ml of fasting blood were collected into siliconized syringes with 0.5 ml of 0.05 M ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid 2Na. LDL, LDL1 and LDL2 were separated by sequential ultracentrifugation. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids (PL) were estimated by enzymatic methods. Analyses of lipids in each LDL were done by thin layer chromatography (TCL). The modified LDL in native LDL of the FH patients was estimated by the authors' own method. The cholesterol concentration of LDL was 0.49 +/- 0.28 mmol/L in FH patients and 0.07 +/- 0.04 mmol/L in the healthy persons (P < 0.001). The LDL1 cholesterol concentrations in the patients with FH and the normal controls were similar while that of the LDL2 was of significant difference (P < 0.05). On the TLC plate, the detection of the spot X1 was considered an indicator of the existence of modified LDL. The percentages of spot X1 in LDL of FH patients were higher in all 3 fractions (LDL, LDL1, and LDL2), as compared to the corresponding percentages of spot X1 in the healthy controls. (P < 0.001). Using the authors' own method, the molecular size were found in the order of LDL > LDL1 > LDL2.

     

Polymorphisms of apolipoprotein B gene in relation to coronary heart disease in Chinese Han nationality.

Two polymorphic sites of apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene,Xbal and EcoRl, were examined in 80 patients with docu-mented coronary heart disease (CHD) and 60 healthy individuals selected from a population of Chinese Han nationality.Allele frequencies at these sites were compared between the pa-tients and controls and their impact on lipid metabolism was also investigated. The frequency of X allele (presence of Xbalcutting site) in CHD patients was 0.10, which was significantlyhigher than 0.01 in controls (p〈0.001). The same trend wasdetected for frequency of E-allele (lack of EcoRl cutting site)when it was compared between CHD patients and controls(0.11 vs 0.05), the difference was not statistically significant     

Serum Level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

To explore the relationship between the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), the concentrations of serum VEGF in 40 OSAHS patients and 9 healthy controls were measured by using ELISA method. Meanwhile the correlation between the concentration of VEGF and parameters of polysomnography (PSG) was examined. Our results showed that the concentrations of VEGF were significantly higher in OSAHS patients with severe hypoxia (536.8±334.7 pg/mL) than in those with mild hypoxia (329.2±174.7 pg/mL) and healthy controls (272. 8±211.0 pg/mL) (P<0.05 for both). The concentra- tions of VEGF were also significantly higher in OSAHS patients with hypertension (484.5±261.4 pg/mL) than in those without hypertension (311.0±158.4 pg/mL) and healthy controls (272. 8± 211.0 pg/mL) (P<0.05 for both). There was a positive correlation between the concentration of VEGF and the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) (r=0.34, P<0.05). It is concluded that the concentration of the serum VEGF is positively related to the severity of OSAHS. The elevated serum VEGF level may be involved in the pathogenesis of the complications of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.     

Increased expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand in osteoblasts from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with low bone mineral density

Persistent generalized low bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).However,the exact mechanisms and causes of the low BMD in AIS patients are largely unknown.The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels in osteoblasts (OBs) from AIS patients with low BMD and with comparison made between the patients and controls.Twenty AIS patients and eight age-matched controls were included in the present study.The BMD of lumbar spine and proximal femur was measured in all subjects.OBs from the cancellous bone of each subject was harvested and primarily cultured.The mRNA and protein expression of RANKL and OPG in OBs was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The results showed BMD was lower in AIS patients than in controls.A significantly higher mRNA and protein expression of RANKL was observed in OBs from AIS patients,while no significant difference was found in the expression of OPG between AIS patients and controls.As a result,RANKL/OPG ratio in patients with AIS was remarkably higher than controls.Our study preliminarily demonstrated expression of RANKL was higher in OBs from AIS patients with low BMD as compared with controls,suggesting the unbalanced RANKL/OPG ratio caused by an over-expression of RANKL in OBs may be responsible for the low BMD in AIS patients.     

Increased IL-23 is associated with increased disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is thought to be central to the development of autoimmune diseases. This study was conducted to determine whether or not the serum concentration of IL-23 is elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine the relationship between the IL-23 level and disease activity in RA patients. Methods Serum samples were obtained from 59 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls, and determined the clinical parameters of disease activity, including the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels, and degree of bony erosions based on X-rays. The levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were determined by enzyme—linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlations between the serum levels of IL-23 and disease activity parameters of patients with RA were determined. Results The serum IL-23 level was significantly elevated in patients with RA compared to healthy controls. The serum IL-23 levels in patients with RA were correlated with IL-17 and CRP levels, and the DAS28.The levels of IL-23 based on X-ray classification phase I、II、III, and IV were gradually elevated in RA patients. Conclusion The levels of serum IL-23 in RA patients were higher than in healthy controls. Thus, elevated serum IL-23 levels may be the useful markers for active RA. In addition, IL-23 is involved in disease progression and bony erosions in patients with RA.     

Acupuncture Enhances Signals at Sensitized Acupoints to Elevate Pressure Pain Threshold in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Objective: To observe the pressure pain threshold(PPT), skin conductance(SC) and blood perfusion(BP) of the sensitized acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA), and explore the mechanism of acupuncture at the sensitized acupoints for treating diseases. Methods: Eleven healthy subjects and 11 unilateral KOA patients were recruited from July 2020 to March 2021 in this study. The PPT, SC and BP of control acupoints in healthy controls, and non-sensitized and sensitized acupoints in KOA p...     

Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 5 (SFRP5) in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely related to obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation. Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) is a recently discovered adipokine. It is involved in insulin resistance and inflammation in obesity. This study aimed at evaluating the association between SFRP5 and sleeping characteristics as well as biochemical parameters of OSA patients. Methods This was a prospective case control study. Nondiabetic OSA patients and controls were consecutively recruited and divided into three groups: OSA group, apnea–hypopnea Index (AHI)≥5/h; healthy controls with normal body mass index (BMI); obese controls without OSA, and BMI > 24.0 kg/m2. All participants underwent polysomnography (PSG). Plasma SFRP5 was examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood biochemical examinations, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were performed early in the morning after PSG. Patients with severe OSA were treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), and plasma SFRP5 was repeatedly measured for comparison. Results Sixty-eight subjects were enrolled in the study, including 38 patients of OSA, whose medium AHI was 58.70 /h (36.63, 71.15), 20 obese controls, and 10 healthy controls. The plasma SFRP5 level of OSA patients was not significantly different from that of healthy controls or obese controls. In OSA patients, SFRP5 level correlated positively with triglyceride level (r=0.447,P=0.005) and negatively with LDL-cholesterol level and HDL- cholesterol level (r=?0.472 andP=0.003;r=?0.478 andP=0.002; respectively). SFRP5 level was not found correlating with FBG, AHI, or any of nocturnal hypoxia parameters. After overnight nCPAP treatment, plasma SFRP5 levels of OSA patients did not change significantly (t=1.557, P = 0.148) compared to that of pretreatment. Conclusions In nondiabetic OSA patients, plasma SFRP5 is associated with the lipid profile. However, no correlation was observed between SFRP5 and FBG or sleep parameters. The SFRP5 level of OSA patients did not differ from that of non-OSA individuals in our study.     

ROLE OF B LYMPHOCYTE AND ITS SUBPOPULATIONS IN PATHOGENESIS OF IMMUNORELATED PANCYTOPENIA

Objective To measure the quantities and apoptosis-related protein levels of B lymphocyte in the patients with immunorelated pancytopenia(IRP)and explore the action of B lymphocyte in the pathogenic mechanism of IRP. Methods Quantities of whole B lymphocytes and CD5 B lymphocytes as well as the expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 in B lymphocytes in 35 patients with untreated IRP, 15 IRP patients in complete remission (CR), and 10 normal controls were assayed by flow cytometry. Results The percentages of B lymphocyte and CD5 B lymphocyte were significantly higher in untreated IRP patients than in CR IRP patients and normal controls (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference of Fas expression in B lymphocyte among three groups (P>0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 in B lymphocyte was significantly higher in untreated patients than in CR patients or normal controls (P<0.01), and significantly higher in CR patients than in normal controls (P<0.01). The apoptosis-related index was significantly lower in untreated patients than in CR patients or normal controls (P<0.05), and significantly lower in CR patients than in normal controls (P<0.05). The percentage of B lymphocyte was positively correlated with post-treated response time(r=0.53, P<0.01). Conclusion The production of auto-antibodies in IRP patients probably has some relationship with the abnormal quantities of B lymphocyte and its subpopulations as well as with the inhibition of B lymphocyte apoptosis.     

The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba Extract on the Expression of PKCα in the Inflammatory Cells and the Level of IL-5 in Induced Sputum of Asthmatic Patients

To investigate the effect of the Ginkgo Biloba Extract （GBE） on the asthma and examine its possible mechanisms, 75 asthma patients were divided into 4 groups and the patients were respectively treated with fluticasone propionate for 2 weeks or 4 weeks, or treated with fluticasone propionate plus GBE for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as healthy controls. Sputum inhalation with inhaling hypertonic saline （4%-5%） was performed. Lung ventilatory function and forced expiratory volume in one second （FEVI） were measured. The numbers of different cells in induced sputum were calculated. The expression of PKCα in the cells was immunocytochemically detected and the percentages of positive cells in different cells were counted. Interleukin-5 （IL-5） in sputum supernatants was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of eosinophils, lymphocytes, PKCα positive inflammatory cells and the concentration of IL-5 in asthmatic patients were higher than those in the controls （P〈0.05）, and the eosinophils, lymphocytes, positive expression of PKCα and the level of IL-5 were significantly decreased in asthmatic patients after they were treated with fluticasone propionate or fluticasone propionate plus GBE. However, they were still significantly higher than those of the controls. Compared to the group treated with glucocorticosteroid for 2 weeks, no significant decrease was found in the percentage of eosinophils, lymphocytes, PKCα positive inflammatory cells and the IL-5 in the supernatant of induced sputum. Compared with the group treated with glucocorticosteroid for 2 or 4 weeks, significant decrease in the same parameters was observed in the group treated with fluticasone propionate and GBE for 4 weeks. The IL-5 level in the supernatant of induced sputum was positively correlated with the percentage of PKCα-positive inflammatory cells and the percentage of eosinophils in the induced sputum in asthma patient groups respectively （n=150, r=0.83, P〈0.01; n=150,     

The Relationship of Insulin—receptor Gene Polymorphism to Ischemic Stroke？

Objective To investigate the role of mutation of insulin-receptor(INSR) gene in the development of ischemic stroke.Methods The base-variations at exon 17 and 20 of INSR gene,by means of PCR-SSCP were determined in 68 cases of atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (ACI),81 cases of lacunar infarction(LI) and 62 healthy controls(HC).Results There were 2 alleles of T and C at exon 17 of INSR gene.The prevalence of mutant of t allele in ACI patients was more common than that in the controls.the blood pressure and the parameters of lipid metabolism in the patients with mutant were higher than those in the controls with wild-type gene.However,the correlative analysis showed that the polymorphism of INSR gene was not related statistically to the blood pressure.No base-variation at exon 20 was found in the study.Conclusion The mutation at exon 17 of INSR gene,by promoting the development of atherosclerosis,may participate in the occurrence of ischemic stroke.     

Distribution of an NcoI polymorphism in the lymphotoxin alpha gene in Dutch patients with inflamatory bowel diseases.

An NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism in the first intron of the lymphotoxin alpha gene was investigated in 35 patients with Crohn's disease, 40 patients with ulcerative colitis, and 30 unrelated healthy controls, all of Dutch origin. The results showed that no significant differences existed in the genotype frequencies of the NcoI polymorphism in the first intron of the LT alpha gene between ulcerative colitis patients or Crohn's disease patients and the healthy controls. The study indicates that the NcoI polymorphism in the LT alpha gene can not be used as a genetic marker for the predisposition to inflammatory bowel diseases. However, since this polymorphism may control the production of tumor necrosis factor, study of this and other related tumor necrosis factor gene polymorphisms may be used as markers to identify patient subgroups and to define patient heterogeneity. Further studies are being carried out on other polymorphisms and on the relevance of LT alpha and TNF alpha haplotypes.

     

Apolipoprotein (a) phenotypes in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

Apolipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] phenotypes of 69 myocardial infarction survivor and 56 stroke patients were reported and compared to those of 190 healthy Chinese. The results revealed that the distributions of apo(a) phenotype frequency in patients with cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) were different from those of controls. The frequency of the phenotypes S_1, and S_2 were remarkably higher in patients than in controls within the same single-band apo(a) phenotype. Moreover, the Lp (a) serum concentrations in CCVD patients were significantly higher than in controls within the same single-band apo (a) phenotype. The apo (a) phenotype analysis of two pedigrees were shown as a typical autosmal dominant inheritance.     

The role of serum leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α in malnutrition of male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background Leptin is a protein mainly secreted by adipocytes, and the major function of leptin was its role in body weight regulation. It is suggested that increased levels of circulating leptin may contribute to anorexia in pathologic conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between leptin and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This study aimed to explore the role of serum leptin in the malnutrition of COPD patients, and to observe the changes of serum leptin levels during acute exacerbation, also to investigate relationship between leptin and TNF-α. Methods Seventy-two COPD patients and 34 control subjects participated in this study. Seventy-two COPD patients were divided into 3 groups: group COPD IA (patients without malnutrition during acute exacerbation, n=25), group COPD IB (patients without malnutrition during stable disease, n=29), group COPD II (patients with malnutrition during stable disease, n=18). To eliminate the effect of sex differences, all patients and controls were male. Body mass index (BMI), percent ideal body weight (IBW％), triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF), mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), mid-upper arm muscle circumference (MAMC), serum leptin and TNF-α levels, serum prealbumin (PA), serum transferrin (TF), serum albumin (Alb), total lymphocytes count (TLC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), maximal inspiration pressure (MIP) and maximal expiration pressure (MEP) were measured in all participants. Leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA. The between group difference and correlation of these parameters were analyzed. Results Serum leptin levels were significantly lower in group COPD II [(4.07±3.42) ng/ml] than in group COPD IB [(9.72±6.67) ng/ml] and controls [(8.21±5.41) ng/ml] (P&lt;0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum leptin levels between group COPD IA [(10.82±6.40) ng/ml], group COPD IB [(9.72±6.67) ng/ml] and controls [(8.21±5.41) ng/ml]. There was no statistically significant difference in serum TNF-α levels between group COPD II [(8.03±3.37) pg/ml], group COPD IA [(8.90±1.60) pg/ml], and group COPD IB [(7.25±2.08) pg/ml]. There was no significant correlation between leptin and TNF-α in any group. Conclusions Leptin was not involved in anorexia and weight loss of COPD patients. There was no statistically significant difference in serum leptin levels between COPD patients during stable stage and acute exacerbation, and there was no significant correlation between TNF-α and leptin during the regulation of the energy balance in COPD patients.     

Alterations of serum phospholipids in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The total phospholipids in serum and the percentages of major phospholipid classes of phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanol-amine (PE) and sphingomyelin (SM) were studied based on 21 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 18 healthy subjects. Serum samples were extracted with isopropanol, then major phospholipid classes were separated by thin-layer chromatography, finally, the samples were quantitated by CS-910 densitometer. Though the results were insignificantly different in the concentration of total phospholipid between the MS patients and the controls, there was partial reduction of the concentrations of PS and PE (P < 0.01), moreover, the percentages of PS and PE were relatively lower, correspondingly, the percentage of PC was higher as compared with control group. The results suggest that there should exist an abnormality in the metabolism of phospholipids in patients with MS in the sense of the alterations of phospholipid compositions in serum samples.