Serum osteocalcin and bone isoenzyme alkaline phosphatase in growth hormone-deficient patients: Dose-response studies with biosynthetic human GH

Summary Serum osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were measured in samples drawn at 8 a.m. in 7 patients with GH deficiency treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) (2 IU/day subcutaneously at 8 p.m.), and 7 normal controls. Patients treated with 2 IU/day had lower BAP than controls (P<0.05). Further, increasing doses of rhGH were given subcutaneously to each of the 7 patients for 3 consecutive 14-day periods (2, 4, and 6 IU/day at 8 p.m.) followed by 14 days off treatment. At the end of each period, the patient was hospitalized for frequent blood sampling from 8 p.m. to 11 a.m. the following day. A dose-dependent increase in area under the curve (AUC) was seen for osteocalcin (P<0.05), whereas the increase in AUC for BAP just failed to reach significance (P<0.10). The nocturnal patterns of serum osteocalcin in patients on 4 and 6 IU/day were statistically indistinguishable from those in controls. During treatment with 2 IU/day and the off-treatment period, the pattern was significantly different from controls (P<0.05). In conclusion, rhGH has a dose-dependent effect on basal osteoblastic activity and the nocturnal pattern of osteocalcin. Serum osteocalcin increases within hours following rhGH administration. However, 2 IU/day is inadequate to maintain normal levels and nocturnal variation in markers of osteoblastic activity.     

Limb lengthening by epiphyseal distraction in chondrodystrophic bone: an experimental study in the canine femur

Epiphyseal distraction of the left distal femur was accomplished in 18 chondrodystrophic dogs (age 19-22 weeks). A distraction rate of 0.5 mm/day was applied by means of a unilateral device. Epiphysiolysis occurred after 4 to 9 days. Lengthening was continued for 3 weeks. The animals were killed at 3 (Group 1; n = 5), 19 (Group 2; n = 10), and 71 (Group 3; n = 3) weeks after the end of distraction to verify the magnitude of elongation at removal of the device (Group 1) and at the time of growth cessation (Groups 2 and 3), and to register possible permanent secondary joint changes (Group 3). The average lengthening of 1.2 cm (12.3%) at removal of the device was reduced to 0.7 cm (6.4%) at cessation of growth. The middiaphyseal diameter of the elongated femur was enlarged after the lengthening procedure in all animals. The average torsional strength of the elongated femur compared with the contralateral control was 83% in Group 1, 98% in Group 2, and 107% in Group 3. Degenerative changes were observed in the knee joints of three animals in each group. A two-way analysis of variance was applied for all data sets to test differences between control and elongated bones and between time periods. The reduction in gained length by retardation of residual growth in the distal femur was significant (p less than 0.05). The difference in external diameter between lengthened and control bones was significant in Groups 1 and 3 (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effects of chronic ritanserin treatment on sleep and the neuroendocrine response to l-tryptophan

A previous study has shown that acute administration of the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist ritanserin doubles Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) and increases the prolactin (PRL) response to l-tryptophan (LTP). The present study investigated the effect of repeated ritanserin treatment on sleep, neuroendocrine response to LTP and 5-HT₂ platelet receptor binding. After 2 weeks, ritanserin administration SWS was persistently increased but the PRL response to LTP was unchanged. Platelet 5-HT receptor binding was undetectable at the end of ritanserin treatment but recovered 2 weeks after drug withdrawal. The results suggest that ritanserin causes a sustained effect on the 5-HT mechanisms mediating SWS and on platelet 5-HT₂ receptors. However, adaptation occurs to its effect on 5-HT-mediated neuroendocrine responses.     

353例胎儿身长、顶臀长与受精龄的关系

胎儿外形测量是全国性的基础研究课题。本文取引产法的正常胎儿标本353例(受精龄11～32周),按全国统一规定和要求测量身长和顶臀长,所得数据按周龄分组,用SHARP EL—500S型计算机进行处理,最后对测量的结果进行分析和讨论。     

血清生长介素水平对内分泌性矮小儿的诊断价值

本文报告102例矮小病人血清生长介素(SM-C)水平及其对生长激素缺乏症(GHD)的诊断价值。51例单纯GHD患者血清SM-C水平为0.14±0.18kU/L,GHD合并甲低和GHD继发于脑肿瘤的11例病人血清SM-C水平分泌为0.09±0.06和0.09±0.08kU/L,与单纯GHD者无差别,均明显低于正常同龄儿童。34例GH正常矮小儿童血清SM-C水平0.89±0.98kU/L,高于GHD患儿水平而低于正常同龄儿童。本文提出1～8岁儿童血清SM-C水平<0.15kU/L、9～17岁者<0.45kU/L应高度怀疑GHD。     

The cervical vertebrae staging method's reliability in detecting pre and post mandibular growth

PurposeRecent studies have reported low reliability using the multistage cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) approach, raising concerns about the clinical usefulness of this method. The objective of the present study was to examine the reliability of a 2 stage CVM method.Materials and methodsThirteen orthodontic residents received standard trainings on the CVM methods (5 stage version), and classified the maturation status of 15 CVM radiographs representing all 5 stages of maturation. The radiographs were reevaluated 2 weeks later. The intra- and inter-rater reliability of the residents’ classifications were assessed by percentage agreement, Kendall's W test, weighted kappa (K_w) for the five stage method and simple kappa (K) for the pre vs. post mandibular growth peak phases (2-stage approach). The κ_w values for the individual stages of the five stage method were also calculated. To assess percentage agreement and Kappa changes caused solely by category reduction (from 5 to 2), percentage agreement and simple Kappa statistics were also calculated for all other possible cut points (i.e. 1–2, 3–4 and 4–5).ResultsBased on 5 stages, the average intra-rater reliability showed 62% for exact agreement and 0.86 for κ_w, the average inter-rater reliability showed 46.7% for exact agreement, 0.79 for both κ_w and Kendall's W. The κ_w for the intra-rater reliability of individual five stages ranged from .06 to .62 with the two highest at the stage 2–3 interface. Based on two stages (pre-post mandibular growth peak), the average intra-rater reliability showed 95% exact agreement and 0.82 for K The average inter-rater reliability showed 91% for exact agreement and 0.76 for K. For all other possible 2-stage cut points, the percentage agreement and Kappa measures were smaller than those from the cut point of pre and post peak growth.ConclusionsThe 2 stage CVM method has excellent reliability in differentiating pre and post peak mandibular growth phases. As such information is necessary for planning growth modification, the CVM method is a useful clinical tool and should be combined with other clinical assessments.     

人硫酸酯酶１基因的作用机制及抗瘤活性

人硫酸酯酶１（ｈＳｕｌｆ-１）能够使细胞表面的硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖（ＨＳＰＧｓ）脱硫酸化，从而抑制下游肝素结合生长因子信号途径的激活。人恶性肿瘤中ｈＳｕｌｆ-１常处于失活状态，转染外源性ｈＳｕｌｆ １能够抑制癌细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭，因此ｈＳｕｌｆ-１是肿瘤基因治疗的一个很有潜力的靶点。