A Relationship of Sex Hormone Levels and Erectile Dysfunction: Which Tests Should Be Done Routinely?

PURPOSE: In this study, the relationship between sex hormone levels and erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as the necessity of routinely measuring sex hormone levels were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included one hundred patients admitted to a urology clinic for sexual dysfunction. To determine the hormone levels, following the history (included IIEF-5 score) and physical examination, triple blood samples were collected at intervals of 15 minutes between 08:00 and 10:00 am. Total and free testosterone, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were studied. RESULTS: Mean age was 43 (23-80) years. IIEF-5 score was less than 21 [9.8-4.3 (3-19)] in all study groups. There was a statistically significant correlation between tT and FSH, as well as between LH and FSH in Pearson (r =-0.513, p < 0.001, respectively) and also in Spearman tests (r=-0.224, p=0.042 and r=-0.459, p < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no correlation between age and serum hormone levels (p > 0.05). Of the 100 patients, 18 (18%) had low tT, 77 (77%) had normal and 5 (5%) had high tT levels. No statistically significant correlation was found between decreased libido and tT levels (p > 0.05). Twelve (66.6%) of the 18 patients with low tT had normal libido. CONCLUSION: Analyzing the medical history in detail and performing a thorough physical examination can reduce the need for excessive studies and consultations, and enables patients to save time and costs.     

自拟安胃汤联合兰索拉唑对老年胃溃疡患者胃肠激素及IL-6水平的影响

目的探讨老年胃溃疡患者给予自拟安胃汤联合兰索拉唑治疗对胃肠激素及白细胞介素(IL-6)水平的影响。方法选取2018年1月至2020年12月在本院治疗的老年胃溃疡患者84例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分成观察组(42例)和对照组(42例),对照组给予兰索拉唑治疗,观察组给予自拟安胃汤联合兰索拉唑治疗,比较两组患者胃肠激素及IL-6水平。结果两组治疗后胃泌素(GAS)、胃动素(MOT)水平明显提高(P<0.05),观察组水平较对照组明显更高(P<0.05);两组治疗后IL-6水平明显降低(P<0.05),与对照组相比,观察组明显更低(P<0.05)。结论老年胃溃疡患者给予自拟安胃汤联合兰索拉唑治疗,能够改善胃肠激素及IL-6水平,应用价值较高。     

甲状腺功能亢进患者甲状腺激素水平与血尿酸代谢关系分析

目的研究比较甲状腺功能亢进（甲亢）患者甲状腺激素水平与血尿酸水平的关系。方法选择2010年1月至2012年11月就诊及住院的52例甲亢患者为甲亢组,另选择同期52例健康体检人员为对照组．均抽取空腹血。分别测定游离三碘甲腺原氨酸、游离甲状腺素、促甲状腺激素及血尿酸水平。观察甲亢组患者治疗前后与对照组的甲状腺激素水平、血尿酸水平变化情况,判定甲状腺激素水平与血尿酸水平的关系。结果甲亢组患者治疗前甲状腺激素水平、血尿酸水平与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;甲亢组患者治疗前后甲状腺激素水平、血尿酸水平比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;甲亢患者中甲状腺激素水平与血尿酸水平呈正相关（r=O．57、0．49,P〈O．05）。结论甲亢患者的血尿酸水平与患者的高甲状腺激素水平密切相关．     

What do you need to know about mass spectrometry? A brief guide for endocrinologists

In routine hormonology, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) is now an established technique for androgen, urinary cortisol and metanephrine assay. It has the undeniable advantage of great analytical specificity, but with sensitivity that clearly depends on financial investment in a very high-end spectrometer. We describe the general principles of LCMS and the routine applications so far developed in hormonology. The purpose is to familiarise endocrinologists with the techniques under development and their pros and cons.     

Age and gender,two key factors in the associations between physical activity and strength during the ageing process

Objectives

The aims of this study were to identify if the associations of physical activity (PA) and muscle strength may vary throughout the ageing process; to study the differences among genders in the relationships between PA and strength in elderly people and to test whether these differences are explained by the hormonal, nutritional and inflammatory status.

Study design

A total of 1741 people ≥65 years of age participated in this cross-sectional study.

Main outcome measures

Upper- and lower-limbs maximal voluntary isometric strength was obtained using standardized techniques and equipment. PA was recorded by a validated questionnaire. The associations of PA with strength were assessed using generalized linear regression models with a Gamma-distributed dependent variable.

Results

A significant gender by PA interaction was found for all strength-related variables (all P < 0.01). Moreover, when sexual hormones, albumin or C-Reactive protein were taken into account in the model, the results did not significantly change. In women, PA was positively associated with upper and lower-body strength; however in men, PA was only associated with grip and knee strength (both P < 0.01). Higher strength values were associated with higher levels of PA, especially in women. However, this tendency had a different pattern across the age range, showing a stronger association in the ‘young’ elderly compared with the ‘old’ elderly.

Conclusion

Higher levels of PA are related to greater muscle strength, especially in women and those who were younger.     

3-8岁阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征儿童性激素水平的初步研究

目的检测3-8岁阻塞性睡眠暂停低通气综合征（obstructive sleep apnea-bypopnea sgn-drome,OSAHS）儿童血清性激素水平,探讨其性激素变化与下丘脑—垂体—性腺轴（hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis,HPGA）启动的关系。方法以76例3-8岁符合 OSAHS 的儿童和40例3-8岁健康儿童为研究对象,检测血清睾酮（T）、雌二醇（E2）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）及催乳素（PRL）水平,对其 HPGA 启动、体格发育情况进行对比,分析性别、低氧、体重指数（BMI）与性激素水平之间的关系。结果OSAHS 组儿童身高、体重水平明显低于对照组（P ＜0．05）,E2水平明显高于对照组（P ＜0．01）。OSAHS 组男童 FSH 水平明显低于对照组（P ＜0.01）。OSAHS 组女童 FSH 水平明显高于 OSAHS 组男童（P ＜0．01）。结论OSAHS 可能影响儿童身高、体重,OSAHS 可能影响 E2、FSH 的分泌,3-8岁 OS-AHS 儿童体内雌激素的负反馈调节敏感性高,HPGA 尚未启动。     

Estrogen and phytoestrogens: Effect on eNOS expression and in vitro vasodilation in cerebral arteries in ovariectomized Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy or soy isoflavones supplement on endothelium-dependent relaxation in vitro and gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cerebral arteries in a rabbit model of human hypercholesterolemia. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six female ovariectomized Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits were randomised to treatment with 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E(2)), SoyLife 150 or control for 16 weeks. Ring segments of basilar artery (BA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were mounted in myographs for isometric tension recordings. Concentration response curves to carbamylcholine chloride, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and l-NAME were evaluated after precontraction with potassium. Total RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and eNOS quantitated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). RESULTS: Plasma cholesterol was significantly higher at termination in the SoyLife group (P<0.0001), whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was comparable in all treatment groups. Neither treatment influenced the endothelium-dependent responses to carbamylcholine chloride or l-NAME or the endothelium-independent response to SNP in any of the arteries. Correspondingly, eNOS mRNA was similarly expressed in all treatment groups in both arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement of cerebral endothelial function by estrogen or soy isoflavones in ovariectomized WHHL rabbits is not supported by the present data. The findings may be unique to the WHHL rabbit in which the hypocholesterolemic effect of estrogens mediated by upregulation of liver LDL receptors is excluded.     

肝移植围手术期甲状腺功能变化与影响的研究进展

肝脏是甲状腺素转化为三碘甲状腺原氨酸的场所,肝移植（LT）围手术期必然伴随着甲状腺激素（TH）的变化,而TH对包括肝细胞在内的所有细胞的正常代谢率调节起了至关重要的作用。因此,甲状腺功能的变化与LT患者的预后密切相关。为此,笔者对LT围手术期甲状腺功能相关研究做一综述,以期为临床与科研提供参考。     

短期使用二丙酸倍氯米松鼻喷雾剂对肾上腺皮质功能的影响

目的研究鼻用二丙酸倍氯米松(beclometh-asonedipropionate,BDP)对变应性鼻炎患者肾上腺皮质功能的影响。方法32例变应性鼻炎患者接受4周BDP(200μg/次,2次/日)喷鼻治疗后,应用放射免疫测定法检测其晨血皮质醇浓度,同时检测31例健康人的晨血皮质醇浓度作为对照。结果接受4周BDP治疗后变应性鼻炎患者与健康人的晨血皮质醇浓度分别为(388.9±146.1)nmol/L和(418.9±174.9)nmol/L,未见显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论治疗剂量(400μg/天)下持续使用4周BDP没有导致变应性鼻炎患者肾上腺皮质功能抑制。     

自身免疫性胶质纤维酸性蛋白星形胶质细胞病

自身免疫性胶质纤维酸性蛋白星形胶质细胞病是一种可治的中枢神经系统自身免疫性炎性疾病,以脑膜、脑、脊髓和视神经等受累为主要表现,磁共振成像可见脑室旁线样放射状强化和(或)脊髓长节段受累伴中央强化病灶,脑活体组织检查提示小血管周围炎症伴小胶质细胞活化,对类固醇激素治疗敏感.胶质纤维酸性蛋白抗体被认为是本病的特异性生物标志物.