Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis Is Associated with Hyperthyroidism

Background

Although the etiology of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is still unclear, a common theme with BPS/IC patients is comorbid disorders which are related to the autonomic nervous system that connects the nervous system to end-organs. Nevertheless, no study to date has reported the association between hyperthyroidism and BPS/IC. In this study, we examined the association of IC/BPS with having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in Taiwan.

Design

Data in this study were retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. Our study consisted of 736 female cases with BPS/IC and 2208 randomly selected female controls. We performed a conditional logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism between cases and controls.

Results

Of the 2944 sampled subjects, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior hyperthyroidism between cases and controls (3.3% vs. 1.5%, p<0.001). The conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that compared to controls, the OR for prior hyperthyroidism among cases was 2.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27∼3.66). Furthermore, the OR for prior hyperthyroidism among cases was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.15∼3.53) compared to controls after adjusting for diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, hyperlipidemia, chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic disorder, migraines, sicca syndrome, allergies, endometriosis, and asthma.

Conclusions

Our study results indicated an association between hyperthyroidism and BPS/IC. We suggest that clinicians treating female subjects with hyperthyroidism be alert to urinary complaints in this population.     

Urinary Nerve Growth Factor Could Be a Biomarker for Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

To examine whether urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) could serve as a biomarker for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of 9 studies. Among the studies considered, patients with IC/PBS had higher urinary NGF and NGF/Cr levels compared to those of healthy people (SMD = 1.94, 95%CI = 0.79–3.08, P = 0.0009 and SMD = 1.79, 95%CI = 0.65–2.93, P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, there was a significant difference between patients with IC/PBS and patients with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms with respect to the urinary NGF and NGF/Cr levels (SMD = −0.62, 95%CI = −1.00–−0.24, P = 0.001 and SMD = −0.70, 95%CI = −1.01–−0.39, P<0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, patients had a significantly lower urinary NGF level after successful treatment (SMD = 1.74, 95%CI = 0.32–3.17, P = 0.02). In conclusion, urinary NGF could be a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of OAB, a urinary biomarker for the differential diagnosis of IC/PBS and OAB (when a critical urinary NGF or NGF/Cr level is needed), and a predictive biomarker to help guide treatment.     

Treating Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome as a Chronic Disease

The management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is both frustrating and difficult. The etiology is uncertain and there is no definitive treatment. Consequently, both patients and doctors tend to be unhappy and unsatisfied with the quality of care. The American Urological Association (AUA) provides a guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of IC/BPS. Recommended first-line treatments include patient education, self-care practices, behavior modifications, and stress management. Management of IC/BPS may be also improved if both patients and doctors treat this condition as a chronic disease. This article reviews the AUA first-line treatments for IC/BPS and considers the benefits of treating this condition as a chronic disease.Key words: Interstitial cystitis, Bladder pain syndrome, Chronic disease, Autoimmune diseasesInterstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic, debilitating bladder disease. ¹ IC/BPS symptoms result in poor quality of life with sleep dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and stress.² Stress increases symptoms of pain and urgency in patients with IC/BPS.^3,4 Family relationships and responsibilities were adversely affected in 70% of IC/BPS patients according to one survey.³ Employment is difficult or impossible in 84% of IC patients.³ Many patients have persistent symptoms despite a variety of treatments. Narcotics are the most commonly prescribed class of medications for this condition.⁵ The direct cost of medical care for an IC patient is more than $11,000 per year.⁶ In 2011, the American Urological Association (AUA) provided guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IC/BPS.⁷ The recommendation is that IC/BPS is best managed through the use of a logical algorithm. Treatment strategies should proceed using the more conservative therapies first. The first-line treatments should be performed on all patients and include patient education, self-care practices, behavior modifications, stress management, and coping techniques. However, the AUA guidelines offer limited explanation or references.Like arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease, IC/BPS is a long-lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured.⁸ Chronic diseases such as these are among the most common and costly health problems, but they are also the most preventable and effectively treated diseases. In 2005, 133 million Americans (almost one out of every two adults) had at least one chronic disease.⁹ Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, accounting for 70% of all deaths.¹⁰ Aside from causing physical suffering, chronic diseases place an enormous economic burden on our society. They account for $3 of every $4 spent on health care.¹¹ With an aging population, the incidence of chronic diseases will continue to rise. Because of the enormous human suffering and societal costs, much time and money has recently been expended on research, education, and pharmaceutical development for most chronic diseases. The human suffering and societal costs of IC/BPS warrant a similar standard of care.     

Health Care Service Utilization among Patients with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis in a Single Payer Healthcare System

Background

This study aims to investigate the differences in the utilization of healthcare services between patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) and patients without using a population-based database in Taiwan.

Methods

This study comprised of 350 patients with BPS/IC and 1,750 age-matched controls. Healthcare resource utilization was evaluated in the one-year follow-up period as follows: number of outpatient visits and inpatient days, and the mean costs of outpatient and inpatient treatment. A multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between BPS/IC and total costs of health care services.

Results

For urological services, patients with BPS/IC had a significantly higher number of outpatient visits (2.5 vs. 0.2, p<0.001) as well as significantly higher outpatient costs ($US166 vs. $US6.8, p<0.001) than the controls. For non–urologic services, patients with BPS/IC had a significantly high number of outpatient visits (35.0 vs. 21.3, p<0.001) as well as significantly higher outpatient cots ($US912 vs. $US675, p<0.001) as compared to the controls. Overall, patients with BPS/IC had 174% more outpatient visits and 150% higher total costs than the controls. Multiple-regression-analyses also showed that the patients with BPS/IC had significantly higher total costs for all healthcare services than the controls.

Conclusions

This study found that patients with BPS/IC have a significantly higher number of healthcare related visits, and have significantly higher healthcare related costs than age-matched controls. The high level of healthcare services utilization accrued with BPS/IC was not necessarily exclusive for BPS/IC, but may have also been associated with medical co-morbidities.     

Increased Urine and Serum Nerve Growth Factor Levels in Interstitial Cystitis Suggest Chronic Inflammation Is Involved in the Pathogenesis of Disease

Objective

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is considered a bladder disorder due to localized chronic inflammation. This study investigated the nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in serum and urine in patients with IC/BPS.

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients with IC/BPS and 28 normal subjects without lower urinary tract symptoms were recruited from an outpatient clinic. IC/BPS was diagnosed by frequency, bladder pain, and the presence of glomerulations during cystoscopic hydrodistention. Serum and urine were collected before any treatment was given. Serum NGF and urinary NGF/Cr levels were compared between IC/BPS and the controls.

Results

Urinary NGF levels were significantly higher in patients with IC/PBS (26.3±11.2 pg/ml) than in controls (1.40±0.63 pg) (p = 0.014). After normalization, the urinary NGF/Cr levels were significantly greater in IC/BPS (0.69±0.38 pg/mg) than controls (0.20±0.01, p = 0.011). Relative to the levels in control subjects (1.90±0.38 pg/mL), the mean serum NGF levels were higher in patients IC/BPS patients (3.48±0.55 pg/mL) (p = 0.015). No significant correlation was found between the serum and urinary NGF levels in IC/BPS patients. However, the clinical characteristics and medical co-morbidities did not show significant difference between IC/BPS patients with a higher and lower serum NGF level.

Conclusions

Increased urinary NGF levels in IC/BPS patients suggest that chronic inflammation is involved in this bladder disorder. Increased circulating serum NGF levels were noted in over half of patients with IC/BPS, however, the urinary and serum NGF were not inter-correlated and elevated serum NGF did not relate with clinical features.     

Uroplakin Peptide-Specific Autoimmunity Initiates Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome in Mice

The pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is enigmatic. Autoimmunity and impaired urothelium might lead the underlying pathology. A major shortcoming in IC/PBS research has been the lack of an appropriate animal model. In this study, we show that the bladder specific uroplakin 3A-derived immunogenic peptide UPK3A 65–84, which contains the binding motif for IA^d MHC class II molecules expressed in BALB/c mice, is capable of inducing experimental autoimmune cystitis in female mice of that strain. A highly antigen-specific recall proliferative response of lymph node cells to UPK3A 65–84 was observed, characterized by selectively activated CD4+ T cells with a proinflammatory Th1-like phenotype, including enhanced production of interferon γ and interleukin-2. T cell infiltration of the bladder and bladder-specific increased gene expression of inflammatory cytokines were observed. Either active immunization with UPK3A 65–84 or adoptive transfer of peptide-activated CD4+ T cells induced all of the predominant IC/PBS phenotypic characteristics, including increased micturition frequency, decreased urine output per micturition, and increased pelvic pain responses to stimulation with von Frey filaments. Our study demonstrates the creation of a more specific experimental autoimmune cystitis model that is the first inducible model for IC/PBS that manifests all of the major symptoms of this debilitating condition.     

The Prognostic Value of C-Reactive Protein Serum Levels in Patients with Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

Objective

C-reactive protein (CRP) has previously been shown to serve as a prognostic parameter in women with gynecologic malignancies. Due to the lack of valid prognostic markers for uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) this study set out to investigate the value of pre-treatment CRP serum levels as prognostic parameter.

Methods

Data of women with ULMS were extracted from databases of three Austrian centres for gynaecologic oncology. Pre-treatment CRP serum levels were measured and correlated with clinico-pathological parameters. Univariate and multivariable survival analyses were performed.

Results

In total, 53 patients with ULMS were included into the analysis. Mean (SD) CRP serum level was 3.46 mg/dL (3.96). Solely, an association between pre-treatment CRP serum levels and tumor size (p = 0.04) but no other clinic-pathologic parameter such as tumor stage (p = 0.16), or histological grade (p = 0.07), was observed. Univariate and multivariable survival analyses revealed that CRP serum levels (HR 2.7 [1.1–7.2], p = 0.037) and tumor stage (HR 6.1 [1.9–19.5], p = 0.002) were the only independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with ULMS. Patients with high pre-treatment CRP serum levels showed impaired OS compared to women with low levels (5-year-OS rates: 22.6% and 52.3%, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

High pre-treatment CRP serum levels were independently associated with impaired prognosis in women with ULMS and might serve as a prognostic parameter in these patients.     

Increased Eotaxin and MCP-1 Levels in Serum from Individuals with Periodontitis and in Human Gingival Fibroblasts Exposed to Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of tooth supporting tissues resulting in periodontal tissue destruction, which may ultimately lead to tooth loss. The disease is characterized by continuous leukocyte infiltration, likely mediated by local chemokine production but the pathogenic mechanisms are not fully elucidated. There are no reliable serologic biomarkers for the diagnosis of periodontitis, which is today based solely on the degree of local tissue destruction, and there is no available biological treatment tool. Prompted by the increasing interest in periodontitis and systemic inflammatory mediators we mapped serum cytokine and chemokine levels from periodontitis subjects and healthy controls. We used multivariate partial least squares (PLS) modeling and identified monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and eotaxin as clearly associated with periodontitis along with C-reactive protein (CRP), years of smoking and age, whereas the number of remaining teeth was associated with being healthy. Moreover, body mass index correlated significantly with serum MCP-1 and CRP, but not with eotaxin. We detected higher MCP-1 protein levels in inflamed gingival connective tissue compared to healthy but the eotaxin levels were undetectable. Primary human gingival fibroblasts displayed strongly increased expression of MCP-1 and eotaxin mRNA and protein when challenged with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), key mediators of periodontal inflammation. We also demonstrated that the upregulated chemokine expression was dependent on the NF-κΒ pathway. In summary, we identify higher levels of CRP, eotaxin and MCP-1 in serum of periodontitis patients. This, together with our finding that both CRP and MCP-1 correlates with BMI points towards an increased systemic inflammatory load in patients with periodontitis and high BMI. Targeting eotaxin and MCP-1 in periodontitis may result in reduced leukocyte infiltration and inflammation in periodontitis and maybe prevent tooth loss.     

Impaired Expression of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) Synthesis and Degradation Enzymes during Differentiation of Immortalized Urothelial Cells from Patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome

Purpose

The differentiated superficial cells of the urothelium restrict urine flow into the bladder wall. We have demonstrated that urothelial cells isolated from bladders of patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) fail to release PGE₂ in response to tryptase. This study examines the expression of PGE₂ synthesis and degradation enzymes in urothelial cells during differentiation.

Materials and Methods

We measured immunoprotein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E₂ synthase (PGES) and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) in human urothelial cells and in immortalized urothelial cells isolated from the bladders of IC/PBS patients or normal subjects during stratification and differentiation produced by increased calcium and fetal bovine serum (Ca/FBS) in the culture medium for 1, 3 and 7 days.

Results

PGES immunoprotein expression increased during differentiation in normal and IC/PBS urothelial cells. COX-2 expression also increased in cells from normal patients following differentiation. Remarkably, no COX-2 expression was detectable in urothelial cells isolated from 3 out of 4 IC/PBS patients. PGDH immunoprotein expression decreased in normal cells after 1 and 3 days of Ca/FBS addition, but returned to normal after 7 days. PGDH expression was unchanged during differentiation at 1 and 3 days, but was more than 2-fold higher at 7 days compared to day 0 in the IC/PBS cells. Urothelial cells isolated from IC/PBS patients demonstrated no PGE₂ release in response to tryptase under any of the experimental conditions studied.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results indicate that PGE₂ release is compromised during stratification and differentiation in IC/PBS urothelium and may contribute to impaired barrier function.     

Increased Serum C-Reactive Protein Level Is Associated with Increased Storage Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Objective

Chronic inflammation is considered as one of the contributing mechanisms of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level is the widely used biomarker of inflammatory status. This study investigated the association between serum CRP level in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) before and after medical treatment.

Methods

A total of 853 men with BPH and LUTS were enrolled. All patients completed the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) questionnaire and urological examinations. The parameters of uroflowmetry (maximum flow rate, Qmax; voided volume, VV), post-void residual (PVR), total prostate volume (TPV) and transition zone index (TZI), serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), and serum CRP levels were obtained. All patients were treated with alpha-blocker or antimuscarinic agent based on the IPSS voiding to storage subscore ratio (IPSS-V/S). Correlation analyses were performed between serum CRP levels with age, IPSS, TPV, TZI, Qmax, PVR, VV, PSA and between baseline and post treatment.

Results

The mean age was 66.9±11.6 years old and the mean serum CRP levels were 0.31±0.43 mg/dL. Univariate analyses revealed serum CRP levels were significantly associated with age (p<0.001), PSA levels (p = 0.005) and VV (p = 0.017), but not significantly associated with TPV (p = 0.854) or PVR (p = 0.068). CRP levels were positively associated with urgency (p<0.001) and nocturia (p<0.001) subscore of IPSS, total IPSS (p = 0.008) and storage IPSS (p<0.001) and negatively associated with IPSS- V/S ratio (p = 0.014). Multivariate analyses revealed that serum CRP levels were significantly associated with age (p = 0.004) and storage IPSS subscore p<0.001). Patients with IPSS-V/S<1 and treated with tolterodine for 3 months had significant decrease of CRP levels after treatment.

Conclusion

Serum CRP levels are associated with storage LUTS and sensory bladder disorders, suggesting chronic inflammation might play a role in the patients with storage predominant LUTS.     

Increased Blood Levels of Growth Factors,Proinflammatory Cytokines,and Th17 Cytokines in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes

The production of several cytokines could be dysregulated in type 1 diabetes (T1D). In particular, the activation of T helper (Th) type 1 (Th₁) cells has been proposed to underlie the autoimmune pathogenesis of the disease, although roles for inflammatory processes and the Th₁₇ pathway have also been shown. Nevertheless, despite evidence for the role of cytokines before and at the onset of T1D, the corresponding findings are inconsistent across studies. Moreover, conflicting data exist regarding the blood cytokine levels in T1D patients. The current study was performed to investigate genetic and autoantibody markers in association with the peripheral blood cytokine profiles by xMap multiplex technology in newly diagnosed young T1D patients and age-matched healthy controls. The onset of young-age T1D was characterized by the upregulation of growth factors, including granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-7, the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β (but not IL-6 or tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α), Th₁₇ cytokines, and the regulatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-27. Ketoacidosis and autoantibodies (anti-IA-2 and -ZnT8), but not human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype, influenced the blood cytokine levels. These findings broaden the current understanding of the dysregulation of systemic levels of several key cytokines at the young-age onset of T1D and provide a further basis for the development of novel immunoregulatory treatments in this disease.     

鼠神经生长因子对电烧伤患者神经修复的作用及其机制研究

目的:探讨鼠神经生长因子对电烧伤患者神经修复的作用及其机制。方法:选取2013年2月至2014年11月期间我院确诊治疗的四肢电烧伤患者128例,依据随机分配原则分为对照组和神经组,对照组患者给予常规皮瓣修复术治疗,神经组患者在此基础上给予鼠神经生长因子治疗,且依据给药方式分为全身亚组和局部亚组。统计分析所有患者创面愈合时间、感染和出血发生情况,采用BMRC感觉、运动功能评级法评估患者感觉、运动功能恢复情况,应用Spearman分析法分析二者之间的关系。结果:神经组患者创面愈合时间、感染和出血发生率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);局部亚组患者感觉功能优良率为90.63%,全身亚组为84.38%,对照组为71.88%,局部亚组全身亚组对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);局部亚组患者运动功能优良率为93.75%,全身亚组为84.38%,对照组为76.56%,局部亚组全身亚组对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);Spearman分析法结果显示,感觉功能与运动功能呈正相关(r=0.812,P0.05)。结论:鼠神经生长因子可有效提高电烧伤患者神经修复的作用,有利于改善患者术后创面愈合、感染、出血情况,促进患者感觉、运动功能恢复,且通过局部给药方式具有更为良好的神经修复作用,值得临床作进一步推广。     

The Impact of Baseline Serum C-Reactive Protein and C-Reactive Protein Kinetics on the Prognosis of Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with Palliative Chemotherapy

Background

The aim of this study was to determine whether baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and CRP kinetics predict the overall survival in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) patients.

Methods

A total of 116 mNPC patients from January 2006 to July 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Serum CRP level was measured at baseline and thereafter at the start of each palliative chemotherapy cycle for all patients.

Results

Patients with higher values of baseline CRP (≥ 3.4 mg/L) had significantly worse survival than those with lower baseline CRP values (< 3.4 mg/L). Patients were divided into four groups according to baseline CRP and CRP kinetics: (1) patients whose CRP < 3.4 mg/L and never elevated during treatment; (2) patients whose CRP < 3.4 mg/L and elevated at least one time during treatment; (3) patients whose CRP ≥ 3.4 mg/L and normalized at least one time during treatment; and (4) patients whose CRP ≥ 3.4 mg/L and never normalized during treatment. The patients were further assigned to non-elevated, elevated, normalized, and non-normalized CRP groups. Overall survival rates were significantly different among the four groups, with three-year survival rates of 68%, 41%, 33%, and 0.03% for non-elevated, elevated, normalized, and non-normalized CRP groups respectively. When compared with the non-elevated group, hazard ratios of death were 1.69, 2.57, and 10.34 in the normalized, elevated, and non-normalized groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Baseline CRP and CRP kinetics may be useful to predict the prognosis of metastatic NPC patients treated with palliative chemotherapy and facilitate individualized treatment. A prospective study to validate this prognostic model is still needed however.     

神经生长因子抗体在小鼠膝关节炎疼痛模型中的作用研究

摘要 目的：探究神经生长因子（Nerve growth factor,NGF）抗体L148M在碘乙酸（Monoiodoacetate,MIA）诱导的膝关节炎（Kee osteoarthritis,KOA）小鼠模型中的作用机制。方法：随机将8周龄C57BL/6雄性小鼠分为对照组、MIA组和L148M组。采用关节腔注射20 mg/mL MIA诱导KOA小鼠模型。手术后2周,L148M组小鼠给予腹腔注射L148M（10 mg/kg）处理。通过苏木精-伊红（HE）染色、番红O染色、OARSI评分和Micro-CT分析评估小鼠膝关节软骨及软骨下骨组织形态学变化。通过qRT-PCR检测CCR2、MCP1、MMP-1、MMP-3、MMP-13、COL10、IL-1β和TNF-α的mRNA表达水平。通过Western blotting检测INOS、COX-2、Collagen II和Aggrecan的蛋白表达水平。通过免疫组织化学法分析VEGFA和Ang-1的蛋白表达水平。通过Micro-CT血管造影分析软骨下骨血管形成数量。结果：HE染色结果显示,L148M组小苏软骨细胞数和关节软骨厚度均高于MIA组。番红O染色显示,L148M组小鼠基质降解小于MIA组。L148M组OARSI评分显著低于MIA组（P<0.05）。micro-CT扫描结果表明,L148M组小鼠软骨和软骨下骨结构完整,没有明显病理损伤。qRT-PCR检测结果显示,与MIA组相比,L148M组小鼠COL10、MMP1、MMP3和MMP-13表达水平均显著降低（P<0.05）。Western blotting检测结果表明,与MIA组相比,L148M组小鼠Collagen II和Aggrecan表达水平升高,INOS和COX-2表达水平降低（P<0.05）。疼痛行为学分析显示,与MIA组相比,L148M组小鼠行进距离和机械刺激反应阈值均降低（P<0.05）。micro-CT血管造影分析显示,L148M小鼠组微血管数量和体积明显低于MIA组（P<0.05）。免疫组化检测显示,L148M组小鼠VEGFA和Ang-1蛋白表达水平均显著低于MIA组（P<0.05）。结论：L148M通过抑制软骨下骨异常血管生成,缓解关节炎症疼痛;并通过抑制炎症细胞因子表达,减轻软骨和软骨下骨病理损伤。     

Increased Placental Growth Factor in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Epilepsy

Recent studies suggest that angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. However, relatively little data are available linking placenta growth factor (PIGF) with epilepsy. In this study, we assessed concentrations of PIGF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 60 epileptic patients and 24 non-seizure subjects using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Epileptic patients in general had higher concentration of CSF-PIGF than controls (7.95 ± 0.88 ng/l vs. 5.87 ± 0.79 ng/l, P < 0.01). CSF-PIGF level in secondary epileptic patients (8.59 ± 1.26 ng/l) was higher than that in idiopathic epileptic patients (7.62 ± 0.20 ng/l) (P < 0.05). In idiopathic epilepsy, CSF-PIGF level in patients with high seizure frequency was higher than those in patients with low seizure frequency and seizure-free in recent 3 years (7.78 ± 0.23 ng/l vs. 7.49 ± 0.09 ng/l and 7.59 ± 0.10 ng/l, P < 0.05). Concentration of CSF-PIGF in patients with a disease duration of > 5 years was higher than those in patients with durations of 1-5 years and <1 year (7.72 ± 0.20 ng/l vs. 7.52 ± 0.09 ng/l and 7.41 ± 0.07 ng/l, P < 0.05). These results indicate that preexisting brain damage, seizure frequency and disease duration are important factors contributing to elevated PIGF.     

GlycA,a Pro-Inflammatory Glycoprotein Biomarker,and Incident Cardiovascular Disease: Relationship with C-Reactive Protein and Renal Function

Objective

GlycA is a novel nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-measured biomarker of systemic inflammation. We determined whether GlycA is associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and women, examined whether this association with CVD is modified by renal function, and compared this association with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).

Research design and methods

A prospective cohort study was performed among 4,759 subjects (PREVEND study) without a history of CVD and cancer. Incident CVD was defined as the combined endpoint of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cox regression analyses were used to examine associations of baseline GlycA and hsCRP with CVD.

Results

298 first CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. After adjustment for clinical and lipid measures the hazard ratio (HR) for CVD risk in the highest GlycA quartile was 1.58 (95% CI, 1.05–2.37, P for trend = 0.004). This association was similar after further adjustment for renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin excretion). After additional adjustment for hsCRP, GlycA was still associated with incident CVD (HR: 1.16 per SD change (95% CI, 1.01–1.33), P = 0.04). Similar results were obtained for hsCRP (HR per SD change after adjustment for GlycA: 1.17 (95% CI 1.17 (95% CI, 1.01–3.60), P = 0.04). CVD risk was highest in subjects with simultaneously higher GlycA and hsCRP (fully adjusted HR: 1.79 (95% CI, 1.31–2.46), P<0.001).

Conclusion

GlycA is associated with CVD risk in men and women, independent of renal function. The association of GlycA with incident CVD is as strong as that of hsCRP.     

高龄Ⅲ型前列腺炎患者血清和前列腺液中神经生长因子、炎性因子的表达水平及临床意义

目的:探讨高龄Ⅲ型慢性前列腺炎(CP)患者血清和前列腺液(EPS)中神经生长因子(NGF)、炎性因子的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:收集2015年5月~2016年12月我院收治的150例高龄Ⅲ型CP患者(CP组),其中ⅢA型81例,ⅢB型69例,另选择150例健康体检者作为对照(对照组)。采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法(ABC-ELISA)检测其血清、EPS中NGF、IL-8和TNF-α的表达水平,分析NIH-CPSI、NGF、IL-8和TNF-α之间的相关性。结果:CP组血清、EPS中TNF-α、IL-8、NGF水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05);与IIIB型患者比较,IIIA型患者TNF-α、IL-8水平明显升高(P0.05);EPS中TNF-α、IL-8、NGF水平均明显高于血清(P0.05)。IIIB型患者的NIH-CPSI症状评分明显低于IIIA型(P0.05)。CP患者EPS中NGF和TNF-α、IL-8均呈显著正相关(P0.05);血清中NGF和TNF-α、IL-8亦呈显著正相关(P0.05)。III型CP患者血清、EPS中,TNF-α、IL-8、NGF与NIH-CPSI呈显著正相关(P0.05)。结论:高龄III型CP患者血清、EPS中TNF-α、IL-8、NGF表达水平明显升高,且与NIH-CPSI明显相关,联合检测有助于评估III型CP患者的病情严重程度。     

Elevated Levels of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Correlate Positively with C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

The relationship between oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unknown. We, therefore, measured serum levels of Ox-LDL and high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP in 90 ACS patients, 45 stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients, and 66 healthy controls using sandwich ELISA. ACS patients were subdivided into: (1) acute myocardial infarction (AMI; n = 45); (2) unstable angina pectoris (UAP; n = 45) groups. In AMI patients, Ox-LDL (177.5 mmol/l) and hs-CRP (25.40 mg/l) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in UAP (Ox-LDL:107.5 mmol/l, hs-CRP:10.7 mg/l) and SAP (Ox-LDL:82.3 mmol/l, hs-CRP:2.10 mg/l) patients as well as controls (Ox-LDL:41.4 mmol/l, hs-CRP:1.76 mg/l). Ox-LDL/hs-CRP levels in UAP patients were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in SAP patients and controls. Importantly, a positive correlation was found between Ox-LDL and CRP (r = 0.622; P < 0.01) levels. Serum levels of total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol did not differ among these patient groups. In conclusion, our data show that Ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels correlate positively in ACS patients, supporting the hypothesis that Ox-LDL and CRP may play a direct role in promoting the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis in these individuals. We suggest that Ox-LDL/CRP elevated levels may serve as markers of the severity of the disease in evaluation and management of ACS patients.