Cortisol metabolism, cortisol sensitivity and the pathogenesis of leprosy reactions

The concentration of cortisol in a tissue is regulated by a reversible enzyme 'shuttle' that can deactivate cortisol by converting it to cortisone, or activate cortisone by converting it to cortisol. The activity of this shuttle, and the direction in which it operates, is regulated by numerous factors including cytokines. This results in large swings in the effective cortisol concentration in sites of inflammation at different phases of an inflammatory response. Thus changes in local cortisol concentration can be largely independent of circulating cortisol levels. The relevant shuttle enzymes are present in skin, blood vessels and nervous tissue, and inhibition of the enzymes in skin enhances the local anti-inflammatory effect of cortisol. We therefore suggest that changes in the activity or direction of action of the shuttle in leprosy lesions may predispose to reactions, requiring exogenous steroid supplements to regain control of the inflammation.     

Evidence for disruption of normal circadian cortisol rhythm in women with obesity

Hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis may play a role in the pathogenesis of comorbidities encountered in obesity, including the relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism that we and others have observed. We sought to examine serum cortisol profiles throughout the day and evening in a sample of normal weight women and women with obesity. In this cross-sectional study, regularly cycling obese (n?=?12) and normal weight (n?=?10) women were recruited. Mean serum cortisol was measured by frequent blood sampling for 16?h (8am–midnight) in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Women with obesity had significantly higher overall cortisol levels when compared to normal weight women (6.2 [4.3, 6.6] vs. 4.7 [3.7, 5.5] ug/dl, p?=?.04). Over the two-hour postprandial period, obese women displayed an almost two-fold greater (7.2 [6.5, 8.6] ug/dl) rise in cortisol than normal weight controls (4.4 [3.7, 6.2] ug/dl, p?p?相似文献   

Longitudinal course of salivary cortisol in post-traumatic stress disorder

OBJECTIVE: In chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lowered cortisol secretion and hypersuppression to dexamethasone has been described repeatedly. However, so far no longitudinal data on the natural course or on the effect of therapy are available. METHOD: We measured basal and post-dexamethasone morning salivary cortisol in a drug-free patient with chronic PTSD (DSM-IV) monthly for nearly 2 years and assessed PTSD and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Salivary cortisol decreased dramatically 3 months after the traumatic event and in the further course showed an inverse relation to fluctuating but gradually improving PTSD symptoms. Post-dexa-methasone cortisol was suppressed below the detection limit early after trauma and rose again more than 1 year post-trauma. CONCLUSION: Both the potential renormalization of low cortisol levels in improving chronic PTSD and the putative vulnerability to develop PTSD in subjects with increased dexamethasone suppression need further research.     

Depression, smoking abstinence and HPA function in women smokers

To determine whether smokers with a history of depression are differentially susceptible to smoking withdrawal, depressed mood induction and/or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation during smoking abstinence, 24 women smokers with and without such a history were studied. During one 5-day interval, participants smoked ad libitum; during a second they abstained. On day 4, the participants were exposed to the Velten mood induction procedure (VMIP). Participants were then instructed to take 1 mg dexamethasone at 11 pm. At 4 pm on day 5, blood samples were withdrawn to determine the cortisol and ACTH response. Despite lower baseline cotinine levels, history-positive participants displayed more pronounced overall withdrawal distress than did history-negative participants, regardless of condition. The VMIP increased depression as well as negative responses on other profile of mood states subscales. Despite many overall group differences, no significant main effects for smoking condition nor interaction effects emerged. All participants evinced cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone during both conditions, but the degree of suppression did not differ as a function of either abstinence or depression history. In history-positive smokers, however, ACTH levels trended toward overall elevation and showed almost no suppression during abstinence; thus exacerbation of HPA dysregulation in history-positive smokers during smoking abstinence cannot be ruled out.     

手术联合放射治疗伴有淋巴样间质的未分化癌的疗效分析

目的：分析涎腺伴有淋巴样间质的未分化癌（恶性淋巴上皮病Malignant lymphoepithelial lesions,MLEL)的临床特点、发展规律治疗方法及转归。方法：收集自1989年－1997年来收治的涎腺伴有淋巴样间质的未分化癌患者共21例，其中原发于腮腺18例。对腮腺Ⅱ，Ⅲ期患者行肿专人切除＋腮腺浅叶或全叶切除＋面部神经保留术。对Ⅳ期患者根据情况，行腮颌颈联合根治术或腮颈联合根治术。术后2－9周内行原发灶或加同侧颈部照射，肿瘤剂量平均为52．03Gy。以寿命表法对生存率进行分析。结果；全组病例中，3／21有良性淋巴上皮病复发史，其中，第2次复发至确诊为伴有淋巴样间质的未分化癌最长2a，最短0.5a。Ⅱ，Ⅲ，Ⅳ期患者分别为8（42．9％）、3（14．3％）、10（47．6％）例。Ⅱ，Ⅲ期者均为NO。全组5年生存率达70．66％，Ⅱ，Ⅲ，Ⅳ期的5年生存率分别为86．68％、66．67％、33．3％。本组死亡5例，均为Ⅳ期，死于肿瘤复发；其中4／5例颈上、中淋巴结有转移。复发者7／21，其中5／7为Ⅳ期，N2、N3患者。复发后经治疗死亡者，最短存活7个月，最长7a。4／21有远处转移，均为T4N2MO。结论：对复发性良性淋巴上皮病患者应高度警惕其恶变。Ⅳ期患者应行腮腺全叶切除，面神经未受累者可考虑保留面神经，因同侧下颌下、颈淋巴结转移多见，建议行根治性或功能性颈清，术后放疗范围应包括原发灶和同侧锁骨上颈淋巴区。     

培元固本合回阳补气法对老年患者髋/膝关节置换术后应激反应的影响

目的:探讨术前培元固本与术后回阳补气合用对老年患者髋/膝关节置换术后应激反应的影响。方法:择期行髋关节或膝关节置换术的老年患者120例,性别不限,年龄65～77岁,美国麻醉师协会(ASA)分级Ⅱ或Ⅲ级,采用随机数字表法分为中药组和对照组各60例。中药组术前给予四逆加人参汤加山萸肉,日1剂,连用3剂;术后给予补中益气汤,日1剂,连用3剂。对照组术前和术后均口服同等剂量的生理盐水。选取L2～L3椎间隙穿刺行连续蛛网膜下腔阻滞,麻醉平面控制在T10以下。术后两组均采用经静脉患者自控镇痛。分别于麻醉前(T0)、术后即刻(T1)、24 h(T2)、48 h(T3)、72 h(T4)时抽取静脉血,测定血清游离皮质醇(COR)和血糖(GLU)。术后24 h、48 h、72 h(T2～T4)时采用静态视觉模拟评分法(VAS)记录患者评分,记录恶心、呕吐、谵妄和下肢深静脉血栓形成等术后并发症的发生率。结果:术后各时点(T1～T4)中药组患者COR明显低于对照组(P0.05);T1与T2时点中药组患者GLU明显低于对照组。与T0时比较,术后各时点(T1～T4)两组患者COR及GLU均明显升高(P0.05)。两组患者术后VAS评分比较差异无统计学意义。中药组术后恶心呕吐、谵妄和下肢深静脉血栓形成等并发症的发生率明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:术前培元固本联合术后回阳补气可减轻老年患者髋/膝关节置换术后的应激反应,降低术后并发症的发生率。     

夜间不同时间睡眠剥夺对健康男性血清皮质醇及焦虑情绪的影响

目的 研究夜间两种不同时间的短期睡眠剥夺(SD)后健康青年男性血清皮质醇及焦虑情绪的变化,探讨轮班对机体生理节律的影响.方法 SD分为两种方式:下半夜SD(24h允许睡眠时间0:00～3:00)和上半夜SD(24h允许睡眠时间3:00～6:00).筛选10名健康青年男性先进入下半夜SD阶段,经过8天正常睡眠洗脱后,再进入上半夜SD阶段.每个SD阶段包括6天,即实行SD前1天、连续实行SD 4天和恢复性睡眠1天.每个SD阶段中每日晨7:00抽取空腹血检测血清皮质醇浓度,同时进行状态焦虑量表评分.结果 两种方式的SD均可引起皮质醇浓度下降(P＜0.05);对同时间进程的皮质醇浓度进行配对t检验,发现SD 4天后,下半夜SD的皮质醇浓度与上半夜比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);恢复睡眠1夜后两组的皮质醇浓度均上升至基线水平(P＞0.05);相关性分析表明,下半夜SD时受试者的皮质醇浓度与SD天数呈负相关(r＝-0.954 7, P＝0.012),上半夜SD时受试者的皮质醇浓度与SD天数无相关性(r＝-0.326 9, P＝0.591).两种方式SD的焦虑状态评分增高(P＜0.01),且与SD天数呈正相关(下半夜SD:r＝0.990 3,P＝0.001;上半夜SD:r＝0.946 0, P＝0.015);恢复睡眠1夜后两组焦虑状态评分亦迅速下降,但仍然高于基线水平(P＜0.05).结论 下半夜SD导致血清皮质醇的分泌减少更为明显,提示不同睡眠时间窗睡眠缺失对下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质轴(HPA)活性的影响可能是不同的.在设计社会轮班系统时,应尽量避免在3:00～6:00进行睡眠剥夺,以保护人体的正常生理节律.     

Epidermoid cyst of the submandibular gland

Primary epidermoid cyst of the salivary gland is extremely rare and has only been reported once in the parotid gland A case of epidermoid cyst of the submandibular gland is presented, which required excisional biopsy for the diagnosis. Such excision is also curative.     

Sialolithiasis in children as a diagnostic dilemma

Sialolithiasis is an uncommon disorder in childhood. Initially asymptomatic, symptoms may appear gradually. These can vary from moderate discomfort to severe pain with large glandular swelling accompanied by trismus. The correct interpretation of symptoms and a proper investigation for localization of salivary stones are important for effective treatment. A case of submandibular sialolithiasis in a 9-year-old girl is used to exemplify the problems had in clinical diagnosis. Received: 22 December 1998 / Accepted: 11 June 1999